Peter McKenna
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | August 27, 1946 , Victoria |
| Recruited from | West Heidelberg YCW |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | April 1965, Collingwood vs. St. Kilda, at Moorabbin |
| Team(s) | Collingwood (1965-75)
180 Games, 838 Goals Carlton (1977) 11 games, 36 goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 1977 season | |
| Career highlights | |
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Peter McKenna (born August 27, 1946) was an Australian rules footballer, who played 180 games and kicked 838 goals with the Collingwood Football Club between 1965 and 1975 before finishing his career with one season at Carlton Football Club in 1977 (playing 11 games and kicking 36 goals).
One of the best full-forwards ever, he holds the record for kicking at least one goal per match for 120 matches. A mop-top hairstyle, genial grin and a gift for taking chest high marks won McKenna adulation in the 1960s and '70s as the game's first multimedia star. He continued a commentary role in the 1990's with Channel Seven.
Despite displaying an early preference for soccer over football, Peter McKenna ultimately developed into one of the greatest full forwards in the Australian code's history. Indeed, his youthful interest with the round ball game may actually have aided him in certain ways. Other champion goalkickers Ken Farmer, Frank Golding and Tony Modra, for instance, all shared McKenna's early passion — a comparative analysis of the sorts of skills required in the apparently dichotomous two activities might be instructive.
Whatever the underlying reasons or causes, although Peter McKenna was by no means an overnight sensation, he had, by the start of his second season in senior football, begun to capture the imagination of Collingwood fans with the obvious range of his natural football ability. In round 1 1966 he booted 12 goals in a match-winning effort against Hawthorn, and by the following year such feats were becoming almost commonplace.
Many full forwards are quick on the lead, but the truly great ones seem to know instinctively how to get the maximum advantage from their leads by timing them to perfection. In this particular skill, Peter McKenna has had few peers, and once he had gained possession of the ball, usually from a bullet stab pass from Barry Price, or Wayne Richardson, he almost invariably finished things off with consummate precision, typically using a kick on which the jury, at the time, was still out - the drop punt.
McKenna topped the Magpies' goal kicking list for the first of eight consecutive times in 1967, booting 58 goals. Over the ensuing seasons he gradually improved, kicking 97 goals in 1969, before amassing an incredible tally of 143 the following year. What was even more incredible was that it was not sufficient to top the VFL's goal kicking list; Hawthorn's Peter Hudson kicked 146 goals, adding a record-equalling 150 goals in 1971 compared to McKenna's 'modest' tally of 134. From the start of the 1968 season to Round 3, 1974, McKenna kicked at least one goal in 121 consecutive games, a competition record.
Moderately disappointing though this doubtless was, what was almost certainly of more concern to McKenna was his failure to contribute towards a Collingwood premiership. The Magpies reached the grand final twice during his career, losing to St Kilda by a point in 1966, although McKenna did not play, and then squandering a half time lead of 44 points against Carlton four years later. In that game, McKenna's misfortune in sustaining a head injury after accidentally colliding with team mate and vice-captain Des Tuddenham during the second term undoubtedly contributed greatly to Collingwood's second half demise. Nevertheless, he finished the game with 6 goals, more than anybody else on the ground.
Peter McKenna finally managed to head the VFL's list of goal kicking with 130 goals in 1972, a season which also saw him achieve All Australian selection after booting 19 goals in 3 games at the Perth carnival. The following year McKenna's total of just 86 goals was sufficient for him to claim pole position on the VFL's list for a second time.
In 1975, McKenna's form began to deteriorate, and after being dropped to the reserves he sustained a serious kidney injury that brought his season, and his Collingwood career, to a sad conclusion. The following year saw him lining up with NWFU side Devonport which, like Collingwood, played in black and white, and was known as the Magpies. McKenna enjoyed a solid, confidence-boosting season in Tasmania, booting 79 goals in 17 games, and in 1977 he returned to the mainland for another stab at the 'big time.'
Sadly, at least as far as McKenna was concerned, Collingwood was loath to pay big money for its former star, and with some reluctance he opted to front up with arch-rival Carlton instead. In what was by no means an ignominious comeback, McKenna managed 36 goals in 11 games, but it seemed clear to all parties concerned that he was some way past his best. As a result, he opted to call it a day, at least as far as VFL football was concerned, although he did round off his career by giving good service to VFA clubs Geelong West and Northcote.
[edit] Career off the football field
At his peak, Peter McKenna could lay claim to being the most popular footballer in the VFL - and, indeed, given the burgeoning impact of the mass media, almost certainly the most popular footballer ever in Australia up to that point. Not only was he a highly successful full forward playing for the nation's most popular sporting club, he possessed a Beatle-esque 'look' which, by the standards of the time, was an adman's dream.
During this time, he recorded his first pop single Things to Remember, written by Melbourne singer/songwriter Colin Buckley. This was followed by another single Smile, written by Johnny Young.
In 1969, he was a teacher at Fairfield State Primary.
McKenna appeared regularly on television at this time, being Daryl Somers' co-host of Hey Hey It's Saturday for the show's first eight weeks in late 1971, and continuing to appear after Ossie Ostrich had replaced him as co-host. There were also appearances on shows such as Young Talent Time and Happening '72.
In 1973, he published a book describing his life and career to date, and his thoughts on the VFL and Australian football in general. The book was co-written with Phillip Burfurd and published in the Jack Pollard Sportsmaster range of titles. My World Of Football was subtitled "The candid, provocative innermost thoughts and technical secrets of an Australian football hero".
After his football career had ended, McKenna began a career commentating football with Channel Seven that lasted into the 1990s.
In mid 2004 McKenna began work as a ministerial transport officer for the Victorian Parliament. Peter McKenna is married and has 2 adult daughters.
[edit] References
- Profile on fullpointsfooty.net
- 2004 news item
- My World Of Football, Peter McKenna with Phillip Burfurd, 1973.
| Preceded by Barry Price |
Copeland Trophy winner 1970 |
Succeeded by Wayne Richardson |
| Preceded by Peter Hudson |
Coleman Medalist 1972–1973 |
Succeeded by Doug Wade |
