With Irish speedster Conor McKenna in a rush so as to add an AFL premiership to his All-Ireland Gaelic soccer title, becoming a member of the Brisbane Lions was a no brainer.
McKenna, 26, has returned to Australia to rekindle an AFL profession that began with Essendon in 2015 earlier than being shelved when he returned to Ireland on the finish of the 2020 season.
McKenna initially had no intention of coming again to Australia however after successful the All-Ireland championship with Tyrone, had a change of coronary heart.
“I was happy at home, to be honest, and playing Gaelic football again,” McKenna stated.
“I was lucky enough to win the All-Ireland … so after I won that it made it easy to decide to come back.
“Talking to a few people from here (Brisbane) got the ball rolling.”
McKenna was additionally in talks with different AFL golf equipment however from his choices, he believed the Lions provided him one of the best probability of reaching his sporting objectives.
“Out of the clubs I was talking to, they were probably the club closest to going on to win a premiership,” he stated.
“That’s my goal now. I played for Essendon for six years … but I want to be competing deep into the finals.”
Half-back McKenna has focused choice in Brisbane’s aspect for the spherical one conflict in opposition to Port Adelaide on March 18.
“Obviously I want to break into the team. If not, just put pressure on the other half-backs, and make sure they’re performing every week,” he stated.
McKenna has simply been joined on the Lions by one other pacy Irishman in Darragh Joyce, who has been signed as a alternative for the inactive Marcus Adams, who will miss your complete season due to lingering results of a concussion he suffered final 12 months.
Joyce, 25, spent six years with St Kilda. He has made 13 AFL appearances, together with three final season.
“Brisbane had been keeping tabs on me the last couple of seasons, behind the scenes, (and) when the call came I jumped,” Joyce stated.
“It helped that two Irish boys (McKenna and James Madden) were up here, so I had a little bit of a connection to settle in, but all in all, it’s a pretty club with a great culture.
“It’s just nice being out on the field with these blokes and getting to know them. Sometimes some of these names you have up on a pedestal and then you meet them, and they’re just all down to earth and great guys.”
“I’m not as fast as (McKenna) but … hopefully I can show it up and use my speed going into offence.”
