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Retired #45: Conor McKenna ☘️ - Returning to the AFL to play with Brisbane - 17/11

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I take it because he went back to Ireland to lead the team and help win one, I feel like loyalty is a big thing for him in the sense that he'd be seeing us in need and would want to come back to us for the same reasons he went back. And you'd think if he's making the move again he'd want it to be for a proper stint - so what better place would that be than to be at a side that's up and coming in terms of demographics and somwhere he can put a good 5 years into with some comfortable coin to boot?

Didn't exactly leave in the best form when he did, as I'm sure COVID isolations and home sickness played a part, but I'd see it as he owes us one and would rather leave us in a better place than last time.
 
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I thought I read somewhere months ago that he flagged interest in returning (to Essendon). But he thought twice about it at that point.

I think McKenna and Hind halfbacks
With D'Ambrosia and Davey half forwards would be a dynamic mix at both ends.
With the ability to switch them around.
 
The reason Jones gets carlton compo (if another club picks him up), but McKenna won't get yous compo, is that it's been less than 18 months since Jones retired, but more than 18 since McKenna did. AFL pretty much has that 18 month barrier to prevent a player from sitting a year out in order to join another club and give their previous club no comp, rorting the system. (But two years is ok bcos no player would conceivably sit out two years just to get to another club/**** over their previous club).

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2nd/3rd rounder for points as compo

Perhaps he ran out of money quick turned back
 
He would want to have a crack at playing forward. D'Ambrosio, Hind, McGrath and Redman are a very good small brigade down back. Redman can push up to the wing and McGrath can swing through the midfield. Connor can have a crack forward after training there for preseason. We have the Davey boys developing in the VFL so if it doesn't work out he can swing to the backline in 2024.

I am pretty sure he'll be back at Essendon. However, if he has any doubts he could train with us up to the Supplementary list time and sign on with another club at that point.

If we could get Tippa back and have both of them up forward, replace Laverde with someone a foot taller, have a fully fit year from Stringer, Merrett, Parish and Shiel, and put a few kg on Jones, I actually think we can bounce back well next year with lots of improvement in the following two years. I think we could sell that to him as well. Obviously, Tippa is the one domino that won't fall. :cry:
 
Bokan said:
The reason Jones gets carlton compo (if another club picks him up), but McKenna won't get yous compo, is that it's been less than 18 months since Jones retired, but more than 18 since McKenna did. AFL pretty much has that 18 month barrier to prevent a player from sitting a year out in order to join another club and give their previous club no comp, rorting the system. (But two years is ok bcos no player would conceivably sit out two years just to get to another club/* over their previous club).

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McKenna "retired" with another year to run on his contract at Essendon.
It would seem odd if a player were to come back and play for a different club after retiring mid contract with another.
 
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His commitment has to be drawn into question. He was flaky at best when at Essendon and the go home factor will still be there. I get the feeling he's coming back for a cash grab and a bit of kick and giggle. Nathan Buckley framed it perfectly, it could well be like the Big Bash guys, how long is he going to be here for? I'd rather give the list spot to a young player from the draft.
 

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Call Me Cake said:
Should be a rule where if you sign as an overseas recruit and you go home before your contract ends, then you can't come back into the AFL for 10 years.
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bit brutal, esp considering he stuck with us despite the go home factor until Covid shut the world down for 2 years.

If he wanted to come back to us, I'd be asking the AFL for a provision to get him back without needing to draft him.
 
MarkJohnson#1 said:
His commitment has to be drawn into question. He was flaky at best when at Essendon and the go home factor will still be there. I get the feeling he's coming back for a cash grab and a bit of kick and giggle. Nathan Buckley framed it perfectly, it could well be like the Big Bash guys, how long is he going to be here for? I'd rather give the list spot to a young player from the draft.
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Flakey is not the word for it.
Yes he always wanted to go home and win a premiership Tyrone but he was always committed to seeing his contract out until Covid and lockdowns hit and the got flayed in the media for snotting on the ground which was the straw the broke the camels back. Would you have wanted to be here in Victoria in lockdown away from family or at home with family in Ireland ?
 
Call Me Cake said:
Should be a rule where if you sign as an overseas recruit and you go home before your contract ends, then you can't come back into the AFL for 10 years.
Click to expand...
Even when there is a pandemic on ?
 
Call Me Cake said:
Should be a rule where if you sign as an overseas recruit and you go home before your contract ends, then you can't come back into the AFL for 10 years.
Click to expand...
What's the average length of an afl football career? :think:
 
ant555 said:
No . It was the guy who was a bit homesick during Covid and ended up leaving early because he got hounded in the media over his positive- negative- negative Covid test .
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A bit home sick during covid? He was always homesick. He literally went back to Ireland from September all the way to January every year because he missed it that much.
 

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andleanback said:
A bit home sick during covid? He was always homesick. He literally went back to Ireland from September all the way to January every year because he missed it that much.
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Take it to the bank. If we did not go through lockdowns and players in bubbles he would have stayed to the end of his contract. In the end the Covid situation drove him over the edge.
 
i wonder how he views the club? Who were his mates at essendon?
the small forward spot is wide open now
 
foj1 said:
i wonder how he views the club? Who were his mates at essendon?
the small forward spot is wide open now
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$$$$
 
foj1 said:
i wonder how he views the club? Who were his mates at essendon?
the small forward spot is wide open now
Click to expand...
It would be interesting to know how the different people at Essendon handled his homesickness/departure. From the outside it seemed they were supportive.

Hopefully he doesn’t read Facebook to see how the fans handled it🤣
 

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Retired #45: Conor McKenna ☘️ - Returning to the AFL to play with Brisbane - 17/11

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