There is likely to be Irish representation in the AFL Grand Final for the second year in succession following this weekend’s preliminary final draw.
The Sydney Swans will host Port Adelaide at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday and in the Saturday twilight up to three Irish players could feature in the Geelong versus Brisbane Lions showdown at the MCG, where the annual season decider will be staged on Saturday September 28.
Tyrone All-Ireland winner Conor McKenna is no longer a first choice Brisbane Lions player following an inconsistent year hampered by two hamstring injuries in pre-season and again in the opening rounds of the season.
The Eglish speedster was Brisbane’s substitute in Saturday’s epic semi-final defeat of the Greater Western Sydney Giants, but his performance only warranted a lousy 3 out of 10 from respected AFL journalist Callum Dick.
AFL fans were a little kinder, giving McKenna an average rating of 4.5 out of 10. The former Essendon half-back is contracted to the Lions until the end of the 2025 season.
Former Kilkenny hurler Darragh Joyce was brought into the Lions backline towards the end of the home and away season but has not played in their finals campaign so far.
According to reports in Australia, Geelong key defender Tom Stewart is expected to the Cats starting 18 at the expense of either Mayo defender Oisin Mullin or Portloaise half back Zach Tuohy.
If Geelong win their second premiership in three seasons, Tuohy will make history as the only Irishman to win two AFL flags.
Tadhg Kennelly and Kerry defender Mark O’Connor, whose season was cut short following wrist surgery, are the only Irish winners of the biggest prize in Australian rules football.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan believes the sky is the limit for his charges who qualified for their fourth qualifying final in the past five seasons after overturning a 44-points deficit to defeat GWS.
“You don’t often have days like that in footy and that’ll be one I’ll never forget,” Fagan said.
Fagan acknowledged that the pain of narrowly losing last year’s Grand Final thriller to Collingwood was a source of inspiration to his players.
“I know they’re desperate to get back there and have another crack,” he said.
“I’ve got no doubt that drives them.”
Meanwhile, AFL legend Matthew Lloyd, a Premiership winner with Essendon in 2000, suggested that GWS missed a trick by not selecting former Derry underage footballer Callum Brown against Brisbane.
The Limavady man was dropped in round 17 in July and has since only managed one brief cameo as a substitute.
“Brown has previously kicked five goals in a game (against Collingwood in the season’s opening round) and could have come in,” Lloyd said.
“I respect players who have played for a long time, but the Giants can’t keep relying on Lachie Keeffe (34) who missed some set shots that could have won them the semi-final.”