Club greats don’t come much more credentialed than defender Guy McKenna.

Taken as a pre-draft selection in 1988, McKenna quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the competition. He played 18 games in his first season, and was rewarded with the Eagles ‘Rookie of the Year’ award for his excellent season. McKenna was a consummate defender known for his coolness under pressure, consistency and unwavering team focus.

Here’s Guy McKenna’s West Coast Eagles Club Champion honour roll:

1989: Club Champion

After starting his career in glittering fashion, winning the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award and being runner up in the Club Champion award, McKenna went one better in 1989, winning the award on 36 votes from Chris Mainwaring who was on 30 votes. The reliable McKenna averaged nearly 19 possessions per game, and consistently provided a chop out to his fellow defenders, and became known for his intercept marking and precision kicking out of defence.  

1999: Club Champion

McKenna was handed the captaincy in 1998, and in 1999 he showed that the extra responsibility wouldn’t affect his performance negatively, taking out his second Club Champion Award. McKenna was again brilliant across half-back, gathering 17 possessions per game, and charged the ball outside defensive 50 more nearly four times in each of his 23 outings. He won the award on count back from Michael Braun, after the two were tied on 36 votes apiece at the end of the season.

To go with his dual successes, McKenna was also placed in the top three an amazing five times across his career, including twice being runner up (1988 & 1991). His career was brought to a premature end due to persistent injury. McKenna also won the Best Clubman award in 1994, was the first player to play 200 games for the Eagles, and ended his career as a four-time All-Australian. McKenna was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2009.

McKenna goes down as not only an Eagles great, but a true AFL great, a two-time premiership player who’s exploits on the field has set the benchmark for medium defenders for years to come.

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