Despite speaking to Gold Coast amongst a couple of other clubs, mature-aged Tasmanian recruit Mackenzie Willis had little expectations heading into Tuesday night’s NAB AFL Draft.
 
The 20-year-old admits his selection at pick No. 52 – the SUNS fourth and final pick – caught him off guard and instantly turned his living room in the south of Tasmanian into a chaos zone.
 
“It was a huge surprise to me. I wasn’t really expecting much and I was kind of just looking at some of my friends being picked up, and (I was) not really nervous at all,” Willis told SUNS TV in his first interview at the club on Friday.
 
“And then pick 52 came around and I didn’t really take much notice of the Gold Coast selection, and then bang my name was read out.
 
“It didn’t really sink in and then my parents tackled me to the ground. It was a huge surprise.”
 
After missing 2014 due to a shoulder injury, Willis returned with a vengeance for Kingborough in the Tasmanian State League this season. He manufactured a decorated year, winning the Tigers best and fairest, selection in the TSL team of the year, as well as state honours.
 
It was on that afternoon, against the NEAFL in Moreton Bay, where Willis put his best foot forward, firming his standing in front of recruiters and emerging as a genuine draft smoky.
 
“It was a really consistent year I think. I put some good footy together when it mattered and representing the state as well in the NEAFL representative game was a huge highlight of my year and that’s certainly one of the reasons I’m here today,” Willis said.
 
Willis’ pre-season campaign leading into last season paved his way to where he stands today, on an AFL list. The consummate professional put his head down last summer, training six days a week to replicate an elite environment, with the move now paying clear dividends.
 
“I was injured with my shoulder and all I could do was really run, so I certainly got myself in really good nick. It helped during the year and helped me play some good consistent footy,” he said.