How retired AFL defender Trent ‘The Cannon’ Mckenzie is chasing his NFL punting dream

Former Port Adelaide defender Trent McKenzie is set to chase an NFL dream after calling time on his 14-year AFL career in September.

McKenzie played 165 games with the Power and Suns, with his standout trait across his career clearly his thumping left boot that earned him the nickname ‘The Cannon’.

At 32, McKenzie won’t try and make the pro ranks in the states via the traditional college route and instead will punt on the Gold Coast to show off his boot to some scouts.

If he shows enough there, McKenzie will head over to Florida and be put through an international player pathway program to hopefully find himself on an NFL roster.

“I’m still trying to get onto the NFL, so I have a bit going on now,” McKenzie told SEN SA Breakfast.

“There’s an international program where I’ll go up to the Gold Coast and kick in front of a few scouts.

“If that goes well, there’s a program in Florida similar to the AFL where international rookies can get picked up and get put onto a list.

“That would be the process I’m hoping for, to get picked up from that training camp and go from there.

“My manager is onto it (instead of teams registering interest) and it’s its only early days as well.

“I’ve been doing a little bit of practice here in Adelaide trying to get the hang of it and I’ll go from there.”

Seven Australians were named on NFL rosters for the 2024 season, with five of them punters in Cam Johnston (Pittsburgh Steelers), Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks), Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco 49ers), Tory Taylor (Chicago Bears) and Matthew Hayball (New Orleans Saints).