In November 2005 Ben McKinley was another young draftee having to pack his bags and move to the other side of the country to chase his dream. From Yarrambat in the outer suburbs of Melbourne he was drafted to the West Coast Eagles with Pick 27 in the National Draft.
It is a move all young players at the mercy of the draft must contemplate and a move many must make. For McKinley the reality of moving away from his close knit family was eased by the ability to slot straight into another.
McKinley lived with Eagles members Terry and Colleen Stone in the Perth suburb of Gwelup for three years. They are people who supported Ben through his homesickness and reassured his mum back in Melbourne he was eating the right food and getting enough sleep.
Eight years on, McKinley is back in the home of the Stones, but it’s not as an AFL footballer it’s as a university student.
Delisted at the end of 2012 McKinley swiftly moved onto transitioning into the “real world”. During his time in the AFL he completed all but one subject of a Law degree. He has returned to Perth to knock off that final subject and set up his study quarters in his old bedroom; also previously occupied by Chris Judd.
Transferring studies between states is a hassle that comes with a national job like AFL, but one made easier by the Stones; who McKinley has kept in weekly contact with since moving-out.
McKinley kicked 89 goals in his 48 AFL games; in 2008 he was the Eagles leading goal kicker, a rising star nominee and the West Coast rookie of the year. However what he will most take from the game is the people he met and the relationships he formed.
“The contacts you make through footy are great. Perth and Melbourne are two footy loving capitals, having been a part of the AFL system people want to help you out as much as they can,” McKinley said.
Through West Coast recruiting manager Trevor Woodhouse McKinley met a partner at major law firm Clayton Utz. “I was able to see the inner working of a major law firm and decide whether that was a career I wanted to pursue.” Once he completes his degree McKinley would like to work in a large law firm and eventually pursue a career in player management, of which he has an opportunity through his manager Colin Young and Corporate Sports Australia.
“AFL football gives you the opportunity to mix with people from all walks of life. You are often talking to people who you have no idea who they are and you wouldn’t normally talk to but it gives you different perspectives on life and it is a great way to network,” he said.
“In the field I wish to pursue, the ability to develop relationships with different people is really important and something AFL football equips you with.”
McKinley is grateful for the opportunities West Coast and North Melbourne provided him to study and undertake work experience while playing AFL football. He says having something to walk into after he was delisted helped him “better cope”.
“It’s great while you are playing to create work life balance and coming out of the game I am not sure what my mindset would have been in had I not done that study,” he said.
McKinley said the change in lifestyle that has taken place with his transition from AFL footballer to university student has taken a bit of getting used to.
“I was never really extravagant with how I spent my money and I never really had a huge income either, but going from having something coming in to having nothing has been difficult,” he said.
McKinley is not playing football in the first half of this year but plans on pulling on the boots when he returns to Melbourne. He loved his time in the AFL but his focus now is transitioning into the next phase of his life.
“There is obviously a transition period everyone must go through, but I am better able to cope knowing I’ve got one subject to go then I have finished my degree and I can go out and look for work,” he said.
“My advice is to use the contacts and the support of the PA and the clubs while you are in the game.”