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

[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.

 

[bombre-boy]

Thanks for the memories Connor....be safe
Hope this doesnt affect our other Irish boys thinking.

 

[sameolds33]

Always exciting and unpredictable. Go well Conor.

May the road rise up to meet you.


May the wind be always at your back.


May the sun shine warm upon your face;


the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,


may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 

[citizen-erased]

Will miss the runs off HBF and unpredictability in him.

Ireland is a special place, and home is where the heart is. Completely understand his decision
Does suck for us, but what can you do.

 

[fairbump_playon]

So disappointing as a fan as we are deprived of about 5 years of peak McKenna... at a time we aren't really flush for elite weapons.
Another brick in the wall of mediocrity that keeps us from the promised land.

As others have said though - can't begrudge a guy turning his back on cash because you know he must be acting with pure intentions.

 

[windyhill]

Does that Money still stay in next years cap ?

 

[owen87]

Does that Money still stay in next years cap ?

Don't think so, wasn't that a Lance Franklin Free Agency special?

 

[Bombermania]

Probably for the best and i say that because once you lose passion for something it doesn't come back so all the best to Conor, thanks for 80 good games with many highlights. The club should if he is open to doing it to become the face of the club in Ireland.

 

[eth-dog]

Does that Money still stay in next years cap ?

I think that's RFA only

 

[JT_the_Man]

Sad, but expected. Had all the talent in the world, but his head just wasn’t in it.

All the best Conor, thanks for the memories.

 

[84859300]

Cynical, I know, but I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back in a few years to another club.

 

[citizen-erased]

Cynical, I know, but I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back in a few years to another club.

one way to get around trying to get a trade out of the club.

 

[eth-dog]

Cynical, I know, but I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back in a few years to another club.

If he comes back I'd be shocked if it were to another club.

 

[Barry Roundhouse]

The fact he achieved the level he did, without being fully committed over the past few years is truly remarkable.

Just 24 years old and hadn't touched a footy until 2014.

He could have been anything! If his heart was a 100% in it, he would have been All Australian. No doubt in my mind!

 

[Seb78]

Inevitable.

I got laughed at when I said we should've traded him when he had currency

 

[84859300]

If he comes back I'd be shocked if it were to another club.

I don't knbow why - no contract and has proven abilities.

Goes away for 12-24 months and a club sees a benefit - offers overs to come for a max two year contract.

Not a fantasy situation.

I could see a Geelong, St Kilda or cashed up North doing a good deal for Conor

 

[IggypopsTshirt]

Conor was left to waltz back home to family while the squad was preparing for round 1. He was not held to the standard required of a professional athlete (that which was applied to his teammates) with regard to his season prep and then the EFC begged him to return to play out his last season when he clearly did not want to. How can we expect a standard of behaviour,
performance and adherence to guidelines when we’ve let him know loud and clear that he can do as he pleases? He will be found to have breached protocol and we will simply
reap what we’ve sewn with a half arsed unaccountable club environment; again. Take a cold hard look at the sequence of events objectively and it takes some serious mental gymnastics to conclude that we wouldn’t have been better off letting the guy walk.

 

[eth-dog]

I don't knbow why - no contract and has proven abilities.

Goes away for 12-24 months and a club sees a benefit - offers overs to come for a max two year contract.

Not a fantasy situation.

I could see a Geelong, St Kilda or cashed up North doing a good deal for Conor

And you're assuming we won't be doing the same?

 

[owen87]

Meh. I don't feel this validates anything you've said there.

 

[Harlequin]

We appreciate everyone has differing opinions on Conor and for that reason we wont delete the negative comments.

We will however card anyone who abuses or plays the man

 

[Lore]

I'd heard that pandemic isolation has robbed people of their social skills due to lack of practice – starting to think it's pretty accurate.

 

[84859300]

And you're assuming we won't be doing the same?

If you had the choice of going to a club for a flag, for money or for a team you played with previously... just because; I see much better options out there outside of Essendon.

 

[Howard Moon]

Sent to Ireland, with a long list.

Edendork won't know what hit them

 

[eth-dog]

If you had the choice of going to a club for a flag, for money or for a team you played with previously... just because; I see much better options out there outside of Essendon.

I think there's plenty of goodwill between us and Conor. Who knows where we'll be in 2 years time? At the end of 2016 Richmond were considered one of the weakest clubs in the league. If we had done what some were suggesting there'd be a 0% chance he'd choose us. The way we've handled it, if he were to come back I think we'd be heavy favourites to be the club he chooses.