Conor McKenna will have to overcome the MCG factor on Grand Final day to become the first Ulster-born player to win an AFL Premiership and only the second Irishman in history to hold both AFL and All-Ireland winner’s medals after Tadhg Kennelly.
McKenna has been named as a starter for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL season decider against minor premiers the Sydney Swans, but there are no guarantees that he will definitely play all four quarters.
The Tyrone star was in the same position for last week’s epic preliminary final victory over Geelong, but pre-game was relegated to the role of substitute as he has been for all of Brisbane’s three finals matches this month.
McKenna’s biggest weapon is his blistering pace off the half-back flank which can turn a game on its head. If he is confined to playing the role of ‘super sub’ again on Saturday, the Eglish man will have no complaints.
“I’d rather be playing (in the 22) but that’s my role at the moment,” McKenna explained.
“If I’m selected to play this week, I’d love to play from the start but if not, I’ll be the sub again and come on and have an impact like I’ve had for the past three weeks.
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“That’s all I can do.
“Obviously, you’d rather be playing from the start, but it’s not that easy in this team.
“When we’re going well, we don’t really change much.”
One positive aspect for McKenna of being Brisbane sub is that is has given him the licence to roam into the forward line where he can use his trademark blistering pace to devastating effect.
Last week, against Geelong, McKenna provided a clever assist for teammate Logan Morris with a Gaelic-style kick across his body in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve talked to ‘Fages’ (Lions coach Chris Fagan) about playing forward this year, and you can do more stuff like that in the forward line,” he said.
“There’s less risk than doing it in defence, so it’s something I want to keep working on. It’s something I can have an impact with when I come on.
“Having me as an option to play anywhere on the field helps the team.”
The loss of teammate Oscar McInerney, who will miss the grand final due to a serious shoulder injury sustained against Geelong, has reminded McKenna to be grab any opportunity he receives with both hands.
“It’s devastating, especially for himself,” McKenna said.
“He’s been such a big player for us, but that’s just football.
“That’s just sport, and the game we’re in. It’s ruthless.”
The venue for the Grand Final is the 100,000 capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground. The vast colosseum which annually stages the biggest day in Australian Rules football can make or break careers especially for interstate players who are not afforded the luxury of playing at the MCG as often as the biggest Victorian clubs who take it in turns to play their ‘home’ games at Australia’s biggest stadium.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Grand Final is Brisbane’s poor record at the MCG. In the past decade the Lions have only won three out of 16 matches at the venue and that dismal record includes 15 consecutive losses.
On a more positive note, since the turn of the decade, Brisbane have won three out their past 11 matches at the MCG and they have a respectable 2-2 record in finals matches there.
This season Brisbane comfortably defeated Melbourne at the MCG in April and last Saturday they beat Geelong in one of the greatest preliminary finals ever played in Melbourne.
The Sydney Swans, who will start first non-Victorian Grand Final since 2006 as favourites, also have an indifferent record at the MCG. Since their 81-point defeat to Geelong in the 2022 Grand Final, the Swans have won just two of eight games at the ground.
This season they have managed two wins from three matches at the MCG but the recent head-to-head favours Brisbane.
Since 2019, Brisbane have won five of their past six matches against Sydney, including the last three consecutive games between the two sides.
Last year, the Lions led the 2023 Grand Final with just four minutes remaining until Collingwood eventually prevailed in a thriller, which could have gone either way.
This time around, Lions coach Chris Fagan, who was yesterday voted AFL Coaches Association’s Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year for the second time by his peers, believes his charges won’t let history repeat itself against the Swans.
“I’m feeling very proud of our group, for the resilience they’ve shown throughout the year,” Fagan said.
“We were in a pretty dicey situation halfway through the season, with four wins and six losses and a draw.
“The way those boys have gone about it and stuck to their guns is (amazing).
“If you had of said to me at the halfway mark of the season, we’d be playing in a grand final I would’ve said you’re crazy but here we are, and we’ve got an opportunity.”