Conor McKenna makes special dedication as Tyrone man basks in AFL Grand Final triumph
The 2021 Tyrone All-Ireland winner emulated Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly by doubling up with an AFL Premiership as his Brisbane Lions side saw off Kennelly's former club Sydney Swans.
Conor McKenna dedicated his AFL Grand Final win to his family and club after making history at the MCG.
The former Tyrone forward came off the bench in the fourth quarter as the Brisbane Lions coasted to a 120-60 victory over the Sydney Swans with the Eglish man becoming only the second player, after Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly, to win All-Ireland and Premiership medals.
Indeed, he’s only the fourth Irishman to win a Premiership after Kennelly and Geelong duo Mark O’Connor and the recently retired Zach Tuohy. Last year, he played in his first Grand Final as the Lions lost out narrowly to Collingwood.
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Speaking to Australia’s 7NEWS in the bowels of the MCG, which had seen an attendance of over 100,000 for the showpiece, McKenna was draped in the Irish tricolour.
“Unbelievable. Obviously got so close last year, this year we got written off, no one would have thought we’d get here,” McKenna said. “It’s just crazy. It’s surreal. Still has to soak in properly but unbelievable.”
McKenna, who made his AFL debut with Essendon in 2015, quit the sport in 2020 having struggled with homesickness. He made a dream return to Gaelic football as Tyrone surprisingly won the All-Ireland in 2021 but after a poor defence of their title and with his form flagging the following year, McKenna decided to return to Australia and signed for the Lions.
Having endured injury problems this season, he didn’t feature as prominently as he had in 2023 and was named in the substitute role once again for the Grand Final though he replaced Logan Morris in the final quarter as the Lions romped home.
“I thought I picked the best team but to be in two grand finals in two years, it’s crazy, and the club’s getting better,” he said. “There’s young players coming through, a lot of players injured this year, so it’s definitely the right decision.
“I play for my family and my club back home, without them I wouldn’t be here. I’m just so proud of what they’ve done for me. It’s all for them.”
There was a travelling support of around 20 from Ireland, including his parents, while McKenna will return home next week to savour the success with his wider family and friends. His home club, St Patrick’s GAC in Eglish, was among the first to hail his achievement.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), the club said: “Huge Congratulations to Conor McKenna as he becomes only the second man in history to win AFL Grand Final and an All-Ireland medal. Well done to Conor and his Brisbane Lions team on their impressive victory over Sydney Swans this morning”, while Tyrone GAA also extended its congratulations.
While McKenna, 28, is raring to go for th 2025 AFL season, some doubt surrounds his long-time teammate and close friend Joe Daniher, who had hinted ahead of the Grand Final that this campaign could be his last.
The 30-year-old joined Brisbane from Essendon, where he had played alongside McKenna, ahead of the 2021 season, and kicked two goals in Saturday’s demolition of the Swans.
“Joe doesn’t even know what he’ll do,” McKenna said. “He’ll take a week or so and whatever he wants to do he can do. He’s accomplished everything he needs to now and he can just ride off into the sunset if he wants.”
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