The penultimate round of the AFL season finished with profound implications for Conor McKenna and Callum Brown despite the Irish pair remaining in the reserves for their respective teams the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney.
On Saturday, Brisbane, lost their second consecutive game following a nine-match winning streak.
The Lions conceded the last three goals of the match to their 2023 Grand Final opponents Collingwood who won 79-78 at the MCG.
Former Kilkenny hurler Darragh Joyce, collected 14 disposals (9 kicks & 5 handballs) and 7 marks in defence.
Conor McKenna produced an encouraging four quarter effort for the Lions in their 77-69 defeat to Collingwood’s reserves in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
The Tyrone Sam Maguire winner finished with 19 disposals (16 kicks & 3 handballs), 8 marks, and 3 tackles.
The Lions, who have slipped too fifth on the AFL ladder, will have to win their final game next week and hope that Geelong lose to leapfrog the Cats into the top four.
Also, on Saturday GWS wrapped up a top four spot after defeating Fremantle 101-92 at Engie Stadium.
At this stage Callum Brown’s prospects of regaining his AFL spot are receding by the week.
But the former Derry underage footballer has never let his head drop since being axed last month.
The Limavady man booted a goal and collected 13 disposals for the GWS reserves in their 113-87 defeat to the Williamstown Seagulls at DSV Stadium in Victoria.
On Saturday Geelong, leading by a seemingly unassailable 33-points at half-time, missed the opportunity to lock-in a top four spot when they were shocked 107-89 by Saint Kilda at the MCG.
Mayo defender Oisin Mullin collected 9 disposals (5 kicks & 4 handballs) and two tackles.
On Sunday, Hawthorn moved up to seventh on the ladder after thrashing Richmond 131-68 at the MCG. Meath midfielder Conor Nash finished with 13 disposals (5 kicks & 8 handballs), 2 marks, and 5 tackles.
On Saturday Cork dual star Mark Keane played in a spiteful South Australian showdown against Port Adelaide who won 80-58 at the Adelaide Oval.
Keane tallied 18 disposals (16 kicks & 2 handballs) and 4 marks in defence for the fifteenth place Crows who are out of finals contention.
Tyrone-born defender Aidan Corr was in action for second-bottom North Melbourne who were outclassed 138-42 by the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Corr finished with 12 disposals (8 kicks & 4 handballs) and 4 marks.
In AFLW pre-season on Saturday, Lauren McConville made her Gold Coast Suns debut in their 68-20 win over the Western Bulldogs at People’s First Stadium.
The Armagh vice-captain was praised for provided plenty of dash across half-forward.