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

[Andronicus]

also love this little fishing snipe from the article:

It is unclear whether he sought permission from Essendon to play or not. AFL.com.au has contacted the club.

McGowan is Barrett level trash.

 

[TheGrizz]

McGowan is Barrett level trash.

Probably still dirty that Fantasia didn't request a trade

 

[TheFrenchCut]

Tbh I doubt the club would've been cool with that.

They'll probably say they were/are though of course.

 

[jmoo wan]

of course they’d be fine with it- it’s non contact and besides everyone hates Edendork - those dirty spalpeens.

 

[blitzer]

Tbh I doubt the club would've been cool with that.

They'll probably say they were/are though of course.

Kind of reminds me of when Naitanui was doing a dunking contest and Eagles weren't too thrilled about it.

I don't think any club wants their players risking their bodies in anything likely to cause injuries. But realistically its hard to stop athletes from engaging in a bit of fun social sports. That said this probably goes beyond that and I'd suspect they'd have a quiet word. On the flip side they let players play in the International Rules and things like that so maybe it would be OK.

 

[Howard Moon]

Think the more time he practices with eglish the better

It's been 4 years and still we can barley understand him

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Think the more time he practices with eglish the better

It's been 4 years and still we can barley understand him

The flip side is neither can the opposition, which is what makes him so dangerous.

 

[CBombers17]

"EFC cannot confirm if Connor informed the club of his intentions to play - primarily because we haven't understood a single sentence from Connor since joining the club several seasons ago - so we sort of just glaze over when he speaks", regards Essendon.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Article has been updated saying he didn’t seek permission.

As long he didn‘t get hurt I’m okay with him kicking snags against Edendork.

 

[Vindicater]

Article has been updated saying he didn’t seek permission.

As long he didn‘t get hurt I’m okay with him kicking snags against Edendork.

I think he is like the fourth Irish guy to do this in as many years.

 

[TheGrizz]

Like I get it isn't great he asked permission and all, but Gaelic is non contact and it's at amateur level, and so the same risks are associated with playing basketball or soccer over summer surely?

Maybe I am naive

 

[eth-dog]

Like I get it isn't great he asked permission and all, but Gaelic is non contact and it's at amateur level, and so the same risks are associated with playing basketball or soccer over summer surely?

Maybe I am naive

It's certainly not as risky as cricket and I know a couple who have 1 or 2 games over summer.

 

[Lore]

Apparently it was a relegation play-off. Edendork got relegated after Eglish beat them. So there was something at stake for his home town team, which is also the team his brother played for a while ago.

(I dunno if he still does but if you google “eglish mckenna” Emmett comes up, which is the same brother that got married the weekend of the Gold Coast game that Conor missed, I think?)

Personally don’t have a problem with him playing but the club should at least give him their blessing to do that sort of thing on a limited basis. It’s one of those things that you do to make yourself attractive to international talent and players generally.

I wouldn’t be too happy if he got injured but if that’s the cost of having an Irish kid that actually stays and plays (and plays well) then that’s just what it is.

Edit: Here’s an article about it from an Irish sporting website:

Aussie Rules star Conor McKenna answered an SOS call from his club to help save them from relegation.

The 23-year-old scored a second-half goal as Eglish overcame Edendork by 2-9 to 1-10 to maintain their ACFL Division 1 status in Tyrone.

The Essendon man found the back of the Edendork net in the 49th minute of yesterday’s senior relegation play-off.

The former Tyrone minor has made a big impression since joining the Bombers as an 18-year-old in 2014.

His fourth-place finish in the Crichton Medal count, behind only winner Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel and Adam Saad, underlined his worth to Essendon last term.

McKenna to the rescue for Eglish - HoganStand

www.hoganstand.com

 

[TDay]

This is how he stays fresh with the awesome "fake out kick to himself just kidding im running away" skillz.

Send the whole team over there to play with him

 

[ghostdog]

I did see an Insta Story with Connor and Ross having a cold one in Ireland recently. no doubt the Irish boys are instant-brothers

Not solo then.


I'll find my own way out.

 

[Darealrath]

Like I get it isn't great he asked permission and all, but Gaelic is non contact and it's at amateur level, and so the same risks are associated with playing basketball or soccer over summer surely?

Maybe I am naive

It's a contact sport, just with a lot more restrictions.

Good on him. Can imagine the other team were pissed though! Curious how the registration worked.

 

[sameolds33]

It's a contact sport, just with a lot more restrictions.

Good on him. Can imagine the other team were pissed though! Curious how the registration worked.

Yes, would be interested about registration (maybe he lined it up when back home for the wedding.) Reminded me of English rugby league star Ellery Hanley who was brought in to play for Balmain in a GF years ago v Canterbury...whose enforcer, Terry Lamb, knocked him out at the start of the game. That might be why clubs don't like their stars to play in other leagues without permission...

Hanley, Lamb & that tackle

Ellery Hanley and Terry Lamb reflect on that unforgettable moment in the 1988 Grand Final.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[Howard Moon]

Worsfold 'disappointed' McKenna put himself at risk in Gaelic game #AFL: Essendon coach John Worsfold says Conor McKenna took a big risk by playing Gaelic football in Ireland.... https://t.co/Jdv0uUf0AR

Hey, isn't offseason meant to be about fluff and hope?

 

[jmoo wan]

Worsfold 'disappointed' McKenna put himself at risk in Gaelic game #AFL: Essendon coach John Worsfold says Conor McKenna took a big risk by playing Gaelic football in Ireland.... https://t.co/Jdv0uUf0AR

Hey, isn't offseason meant to be about fluff and hope?

i really, really don’t like that response from woosha. I don’t get what purpose it serves.

praise publicly, scold privately.

 

[Howard Moon]

i really, really don’t like that response from woosha. I don’t get what purpose it serves.

praise publicly, scold privately.

Yep....might as well run him home...

Give the kid a break, he's a known homesick risk, one of our most important players. Way to disenfranchise !

 

[Atavistic]

"Out of everything you can do as a footballer in the off-season, going and playing non-contact football would be the best," Worsfold said.

Not sure how accurate this statement is. Surely chess or tiddly winks are just as good.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

i really, really don’t like that response from woosha. I don’t get what purpose it serves.

praise publicly, scold privately.

He was even worse trying to explain why Hurley and Hooker were not in leadership group.

 

[Howard Moon]

He was even worse trying to explain why Hurley and Hooker were not in leadership group.

'Out of everything you can do as a leader at a football club, going and being a leader would be the best,' Worsfold said.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

"I won't speak to Conor until he gets back, and I will be disappointed that he played, and at least didn't feel like he could have rung and just checked."

"Out of everything you can do as a footballer in the off-season, going and playing non-contact football would be the best," Worsfold said.

"It's better than going snow skiing or playing basketball or playing rugby, something you don't do day in and day out."

 

[yodellinhank]

i really, really don’t like that response from woosha. I don’t get what purpose it serves.

praise publicly, scold privately.

He has singled McKenna out before.

He shouldn't be saying anything he isn't even the real coach.