From paddocks to hallowed AFL grounds

It’s been a whirlwind start to 2025 for Henderson, who went from a full-time agronomist to making his AFL debut and kicking a goal for the Melbourne Football Club.

The 25 year-old previously juggled life as a VFL player and full-time agronomist for Nutrien Ag Solutions Bannockburn, but when a dream AFL contract came, he wasn’t ready to hang up the green shirt.

“I felt very lucky to get a full-time agronomy job out of university at Nutrien Bannockburn because I could stay on as an agronomist and still commit to playing VFL for Werribee and train after work,” Henderson said.

“Last year I missed out on the draft but in February, a list spot opened at West Coast and then Melbourne also got a long-term injury and offered me a position there too.

“Part of the decision to take up the offer from the Demons was I could still do a day a week at Nutrien and the branch was really supportive of keeping me on.”

Growing up playing for the Deniliquin Rams, professional football has long been the dream for the 2024 VFL grand final player of the match.

But having made his first-grade debut at 25, Henderson is grateful to have had the opportunity to forge a career in another industry that he loves.

“I’ve seen lots of people come out of school and put all their eggs in one basket, but I’ve got to be realistic,” he said.

“Even if you do make it into the AFL, the average lifetime in the game is about three years, so you are going to come out at some stage, and it’s important to find something you love and chip away at it as much as you can in the early days.”

Nutrien Ag Solutions Bannockburn senior agronomist Nathan Mckinley, who has mentored Henderson throughout his traineeship, said the decision to keep him on as a casual agronomist is testament to his character and work ethic.

“When you get a good person, let alone a great agronomist too, you don’t want to let them go,” he said.

“We want to support Jack and make sure he knows he still brings value to our team.

“Last year when he won the VFL grand final and was best on, he was more than likely going to get opportunities to play in the AFL and I said to him that if the opportunity does come, make sure you take it with both hands.

“He’s been able to juggle both at the moment, which is great because if he does come back full time down the track, he’ll be able to jump straight back into his agronomy work.”

Another recent mentor for Henderson has been fellow Bannockburn branch member and recently retired Geelong Cats star Tom Hawkins.

Hawkins recently began working for Nutrien Ag Solutions in a livestock role.

“I spoke to Tom in the early days, when he jumped in the ute with me to come soil testing a couple of weeks before I signed to Melbourne,” Henderson said.

“I have chatted to him a few times just around the expectations of coming to a club and whether it was the right thing to do, in terms of keeping my finger on the pulse at Nutrien and with my agronomy.

“He has been really supportive of it all and said that when I’m at the club, make use of my time there.

“But a day driving around paddocks with clients, doing what I love, is a great way to spend any time off.”