Tyrone All-Ireland winner Conor McKenna is through to the first AFL Grand Final of his career after producing a superb four-quarter effort for the Brisbane Lions in their preliminary final defeat of Carlton 79-63 at their Gabba fortress on Saturday.
McKenna is now just one win away from becoming only the second Irish player in history, after Kerry superstar Tadhg Kennelly, to win both an AFL Premiership and an All-Ireland crown.
An ever-present for the Lions this season, McKenna lit up the Gabba in the second quarter when he intercepted the ball from just inside the Lions forward 50 metre arc, twisted, turned, and used his trademark blistering pace to unleash a stunning long-range effort which reduced Brisbane’s arrears.
The hosts’ win was their 13th from 13 games at the Gabba this season, but it was far from easy. Carlton set alarm bells ringing by kicking the first five goals of the game to race to a 23-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
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In the second term, McKenna became increasingly influential with his run and carry off the halfback flank as Brisbane turned the match on its head and took a narrow lead into the half-time break.
After a series of failed finals campaigns under coach Chris Fagan, who has never previously never led Brisbane into a grand final under his tutelage, the Lions were determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
They bossed the game in the second half with McKenna, who was named as of Brisbane’s best players, in career best form.
The Eglish star finished the four-quarters with a match tally of 20 disposals (19 kicks & 1 handball), 3 marks, and 2 tackles.
Well done to @CMckenna7 who will play in the AFL Grand final against Collingwood next Saturday after @brisbanelions defeated Carlton this morning. pic.twitter.com/49cDSkVBKy
— Eglish GAC (@EglishGAC) September 23, 2023
McKenna (27) penned a one-year deal with Brisbane in November last year. The former Essendon Bombers player signed a new two-year contact earlier this week.
The Lions will travel to the Melbourne Cricket Ground next Saturday for the season decider against premiership favourites Collingwood. The two sides met in back-to-back grand finals in 2002 and 2003 when Brisbane prevailed on both occasions.
This time around the Lions will have to overcome their MCG hoodoo.
Since 2014, when the Lions defeated Collingwood in round 21, the Lions have only won once in 15 matches at the home of Australian football.
They did however defeat Melbourne in last year’s knock out semi-final at the iconic venue and have defeated Collingwood in four of their last five meetings against the Magpies.
Four of those games were at the Gabba and one at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne.
Speaking post-match, Fagan praised McKenna’s four-quarter heroics.
“Conor McKenna played like an Irishman who wants to play in an AFL Grand Final,” Fagan said.
“He’s a terrific story.
“I thought he was magnificent early on to help our defence stand up, to only concede six set shots from 20 forward entries was pretty good.”
And Fagan added:
“We just have to embrace the challenge, stay calm, and keep a lid on the place. We will get our players together on Monday and talk to them about what’s coming.”
