Branded “not tough enough” by AFL legend Luke Hodge, Conor McKenna had the last laugh when the Tyrone Sam Maguire winner celebrated the Brisbane Lions dramatic last-minute winner against Melbourne in a pulsating round 16 fixture on Friday night.
Trailing by 23 points at half-time and 15 points at the end of the third quarter, the Lions notched their fourth consecutive victory of the season (86-81) which keeps their top four hopes alive.
With only 8 rounds of the regular season remaining, Brisbane in ninth spot is only one win off Fremantle in third.
Now a respected TV pundit, former Lions star Hodge was critical of McKenna’s tackling efforts in the first half which led to three Melbourne goals.
McKenna finished with 18 disposals (16 kicks & 2 handballs), 4 marks, and gained 500 metres; second only to teammate Brandon Starcevich.
In contrast to McKenna’s upward momentum, former Derry underage footballer Callum Brown is in danger of missing finals altogether.
GWS won five consecutive matches at the start of the season but a 94-78 defeat to The Adelaide Crows at The Adelaide Oval on Saturday, was their sixth loss in eight matches.
Brown struggled to impact the contest with just four disposals (1 kick & 3 handballs) and one behind to his name.
Cork dual player Mark Keane collected 12 disposals (9 kicks & 3 handballs) 6 marks and 1 tackle in the Crows defence.
Down to eleventh spot, GWS are one of nine teams separated by only one win on the season ladder but as Brown admitted they urgently need to “toughen up” to save their season.
“Everyone just needs to toughen up a little bit and really stick in and just show what we’ve been training throughout the week,” Brown said.
“It has to come from everybody - the forwards, mids and backs.
Also on Saturday, Geelong produced their most important win of the season to defeat Essendon (105-60) at the MCG.
After winning their opening seven matches, the Cats won only one of their past seven matches before defeating the Bombers.
They are now up to fifth on the season ladder, just a draw behind Essendon in fourth.
Portlaoise full-back Zach Tuohy was named as one of Geelong’s best players for his match tally of 20 disposals (16 kicks & 4 handballs), 4 marks, 3 tackles, and 369 metres gained.
Kerry defender Mark O’Connor tallied 6 disposals (6 kicks), 3 marks, and 1 tackle as a fourth-quarter substitute.
On Sunday, Meath midfielder Conor Nash was named as one of Hawthorn’s best players in their 33-94 thrashing of the West Coast Eagles at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Nash collected 25 disposals (10 kicks & 15 handballs), 3 marks, and 5 tackles. The Hawks in thirteenth on the season ladder are only a draw outside the top four.
On Saturday, Tyrone-born Aidan Corr finished with 15 disposals (11 kicks & 4 handballs), 4 marks, and 1 tackle for bottom side North Melbourne in their 60-77 defeat to the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
