Australian Football

Gordon Mackie's senior career began at Preston in 1928, where he played with success for four seasons. He then expressed a desire to move to VFL club Carlton, which the Bullants' committee at first refused to countenance, but in the end he managed to get his way in time to join the Blues after the 1932 season had commenced. 

Mackie's VFL career was short, comprising just 60 games in less than five seasons, but auspicious. Indeed, in the view of some he was the best centre half back in the competition, boasting formidable pace, good aerial and ground ability, and magnificent kicking skills, qualities which earned him interstate selection. He was one of Carlton's best in its narrow Grand Final loss to Richmond in 1932, but three and a half years later, while he was still very much at his peak, his career was brought to a peremptory end by injury.

Author - John Devaney