Playing for Werribee in the VFL on Saturday against Port Melbourne after returning from a stint on the sidelines with injury, the medium-sized forward finished the day with a sensational six-goal haul and sent a strong message to North's match committee.
Ever-present in the Tigers' forward line throughout the afternoon, McKinley's hard work helped set up his side's first goal and then he too hit the scoreboard just minutes later with a clever snap.
He kicked another in the second quarter and could have had four before half-time had he kicked accurately.
Hampered by groin issues in the past few months, the former West Coast Eagle was back to his best and looked symptom free at Port Melbourne's home ground.
With the Tigers needing a spark, McKinley was there to provide it in the third quarter with a third goal just minutes in. His tally continued to climb after a snap out of congestion and he snared a fifth major after a strong lead and mark.
Number six, and his third for the quarter, was a soccer goal after his team-mates grubbed the ball along the ground toward the goal mouth.
He may well have had seven for the day but for the field umpire denying him a mark about 30 metres out from goal in the final term.
Wearing number 68 for Werribee, which went down to Port by 19 points, McKinley is crying out for another opportunity to represent North Melbourne at AFL level. He played his first and only game for the Roos in round one against his former club in the west.
