*said in Greta Thunberg voice
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He’ll do a stopover in Perth for the game on the flight back. It’s on the way.
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This doesn’t quite align with Tom Browne’s view. I wonder who is right?
Essendon will step up its dialogue with Conor McKenna across the next week, but the homesick Irishman remains in doubt for the Round 1 clash with Fremantle at Marvel Stadium.
The Bombers recently allowed McKenna to return to his hometown of Eglish, in Country Tyrone, citing “homesickness and family-related reasons”.
It’s understood the club agreed to give McKenna at least a week without interruption to spend time with his family – and to clear his head – before re-engaging discussions about what it hopes will be a potential return date.
While Ireland’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) are closely monitoring the situation, Essendon remains cautiously optimistic the 23-year-old – who is contracted until the end of the 2021 season – will be back soon to honour the deal.
Discussions will resume in the coming days with Essendon player welfare manager Matt Little – who has a strong relationship with McKenna and his family – expected to play a key role.
The Irishman assured Bombers officials he would maintain his fitness base while overseas.
The club hasn’t yet drawn a line through his name for Round 1 – which falls on March 21, a week before his 24th birthday – but he won’t play unless he has managed at least one pre-season game.
He won’t be available for the club’s opening Marsh Community Series clash with West Coast in Perth on Thursday week, but would likely need to play in the second pre-season clash with Geelong at Colac on March 9 to guarantee him a Round 1 slot against the Dockers.
The Belfast Telegraph suggested recently McKenna’s homesickness might have been stirred by playing in a relegation playoff for Eglish last November, without the permission of the Bombers.
He also missed the club’s game against Gold Coast last year to attend his brother’s wedding.
The paper speculated McKenna had had “conversations” about his future with Tyrone All-Star Cathal McShane, who this month turned down an AFL contract with Adelaide after impressing in a 10-day trial.
“You can’t help but wonder just what kind of effect that now infamous relegation playoff between Eglish and Edendork last November – in which he played – had on him (McKenna),” the Belfast Telegraph’s Declan Bogue noted.
“McKenna is a product of his environment. His family are steeped in the GAA and in Eglish, his mother Sheila having been a renowned camogie (an Irish stick-and-ball team sport for women) player.”
The hard-running rebound defender is coming off his best season, having finished fourth in the club’s best and fairest last year. He was being considered as a forward option in 2020, having trained for most of the summer in attack, in an effort to boost the Essendon attack, which looks leaner than it has before.
The Bombers have long been aware of McKenna’s homesickness and have worked diligently behind the scenes in an effort to resolve some of the issues.
They may be prepared to give further ground, given some of McKenna’s homesickness concerns relate back to the length of the AFL pre-season.
McKenna conceded in December: “I still suffer a bit with homesickness. I’ve always been a home bird and the first couple of years were pretty tough, not really knowing if you want to go back at the end of the year and still kind of struggling to go back.
“The club realise that I’ve probably struggled with homesickness for the last five years and will probably always struggle with it, it’s just something I’m dealing with and trying to make it easier.”
McKenna played 22 games last season, taking his tally to 73 from his five seasons. He elevated his importance to the Essendon side, and that’s why the Bombers are doing all they can to ensure he comes back to Tullamarine.
I really wish they would learn to spell English.
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Haven’t you moved on yet?
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Who the Irish or the HScum?
If Irish, they speak Gaelic so no.
If HScum then they speak gibberish so no.
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it’s probably time he told the club what he’s doing. it’ll be a shame to lose him IF it goes that way, but the club also needs to know either way sooner rather than later. I understand it’s probably a delicate situation but we’d need to know pretty soon
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The urgent need is to support Conor’s welfare and state of mind.
The secondary need is to get him back playing for us when his commitment is back (if it ever left). I think he’ll play out his contract.
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I think he’ll play out a second one too.
And; if by some chance he doesn’t return, will the AFL allow us a draft pick?
I would always leave the door open to McKenna
whether its marsh series rd 2, round 5 or round 11
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No.
Why?
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Was just about to ask the same question. There is really no rush.
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Not a draft pick but will will be able to select another player to come onto the list as he will go on to the inactive list like Johnson.
i do wonder if this final list spot will come down to who is more likely required for depth In the early season (not to play senior footy, but fill a hole in the VFL) If reports are accurate we are down to Lockyer and Teakle. Nigel gets the gig as a running half back who can swing forward if Connors stay in Ireland extends past the round one start, Teakle if it looks like TBC is behind schedule, etc
For some reason i feel really confident that he will be back and ready for round one.
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because I’m sure the club would like to know so they can plan ahead for the season. we’re also a football club as well as a player welfare service
I don’t mind if he chooses not to come back, I wouldn’t blame him. but I’m betting there are a few nervous people at the club. he’d leave a big hole in our team
Surely the plan is the same is if he copped a physical injury in mid Feb. We go to plan B, and we track his recovery, and when he’s got we slot him back in.
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The club has stated they are in close contact with him and working with him. Therefore that would mean they would know about the situation and have already been working around the issue and have plans in place.
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