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

[Jack Richards]

Sucks to be honest. But can't help feel our poor form has contributed to his early retirement.

Yes it was always going to happen as his heart was entirely in it, but would he have retired early if we were a top 4 chance?

 

[Tang]

Sucks to be honest. But can't help feel our poor form has contributed to his early retirement.

Yes it was always going to happen as his heart was entirely in it, but would he have retired early if we were a top 4 chance?

he wanted to leave from before the hub I think

 

[Mercurial89]

He will be a star over there. Gets to live his childhood dream, its so important to them over there.

Thanks for the memories Conor.

 

[SydneyBomber]

Thanks for a few highlights Conor, but one less flaky player in the team who's heart isn't in it is not such a bad thing.
Was always going to happen, he should have just left last year.

So glad we bent over backward for him at the expense of playing kids that might actually be a part of our future earlier this year...

 

[Vander18]

When the news dropped that he was training once a week with a local Gaelic team in Melbourne that was it for me.....we were going OTT to please him and sending all sorts of crazy messages to the rest of the playing group.

Gave us some great highlights along the way but all will be better off now.

 

[donlav99]

From playing professional sport & golf on the GC to working 9-5 in Ireland... whatever floats your boat i guess. Good luck to him. I expect to hear a Brownlow equivalent coming his way in the Gaelic.

 

[TheDinosaur]

Hope he torches the afl/media on the way out after all the covid shit.

Good luck Conor!


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[Milanista28]

Super sad. Loved him.

Was on a decent contract as well so hopefully gives us some room to move if we want a FA.

 

[SherbertLemon]

Great talent. Great bloke it seems too.

But honestly, waste of time.
He’s leaving in his prime, after all these years of development

 

[the PILL]

Devastating to actually officially hear it, all the best young man...

 

[donlav99]

Great talent. Great bloke it seems too.

But honestly, waste of time.
He’s leaving in his prime, after all these years of development

The clubs will become super cautious about these irish boys.

 

[eth-dog]

Thanks Conor. Played some unbelievable footy for us and if he ever reconsiders I hope he comes back to us

 

[Donakebab]

Assuming his contract still falls under the cap? Can at least bank the final year in a difficult financial environment.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Sucks to be honest. But can't help feel our poor form has contributed to his early retirement.

Yes it was always going to happen as his heart was entirely in it, but would he have retired early if we were a top 4 chance?

he has been wanting to leave for a long time mate

 

[TheFrenchCut]

Further evidence that playing in our forwardline makes people want to leave us

 

[Lore]

Assuming his contract still falls under the cap? Can at least bank the final year in a difficult financial environment.

Will depend on the contract but if it's effective immediately then the contract is concluded on a pro-rata basis to the official end date. We didn't acquire him as a free agent so there's no Buddy situation here.

 

[eth-dog]

Assuming his contract still falls under the cap? Can at least bank the final year in a difficult financial environment.

I think that's onl true if you sign them under RFA. If it does you do what the Swans did with Tippett and put him on the rookie list for a year

 

[half time raffle]

Super player, surprised that he only played 79 games. His development in that time was enormous, ill always wonder how good a player he couldve become if he got to 150 games.

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[Ambrosia]

The clubs will become super cautious about these irish boys.

Why? McKenna still clearly falls into the success category imo

 

[Vincent Hanna]

I met Conor a few times over the years out and about - lovely bloke with a seriously cheeky sense of humour. Wish him all the best, I greatly admire anyone who walks away from their sport at the elite level for whatever reason instead of hanging around for the paycheck. Champion bloke - wishing him the best of times forever.

 

[Dave]

Thanks Conor, all the best for the future.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Bit disappointed considering he is still so young and has so much skill. But at the same time, can't begrudge a player for doing what is best for their personal life.

On the plus side, at least the call is being made now and he doesn't take up cap space next year (I hope) and the whole season we're umming and uhhing whether or not we give him another contract.

All the best Conor. As Fall Out Boy once said - Thanks for the memories.

 

[donlav99]

Why? McKenna still clearly falls into the success category imo

geez, if you think that was a "success", i assume you think this club has enjoyed sustained "success" for the past 20 years hahah.

How about we (the club) set our success bar a little higher.

 

[Ambrosia]

geez, if you think that was a "success", i assume you think this club has enjoyed sustained "success" for the past 20 years hahah.

How about we (the club) set our success bar a little higher.

How is it a failure? We got far more out of McKenna than we do most rookie draft picks. It’s disappointing that he has retired but I don’t see why the club would have to be cautious about recruiting Irish players.

 

[BrunoV]

Huge loss for us and the game.

We only ever scratched the surface of what he could be.

Truly was a generational talent.