Why Conor McKenna’s magic acts are no luck of the Irish

Forget the luck of the Irish, Brisbane Lions star Conor McKenna has revealed he trains to kick what seems improbable goals.

McKenna, 30, accepted the AFL’s goal-of-the-year award, and $50,000 in prizemoney, on Monday night, for his stunning effort against Collingwood at the MCG in round 24, becoming the first Irishman to achieve the feat.

On that occasion, McKenna blocked an attempted handpass by Magpie Sam Swadling close to the Lions’ goal. He somehow took control of the ball, which had hit the turf, before unleashing a brilliant Gaelic football-style soccer bunt in the left pocket from just beyond the point post to convert on a tight angle.

Seven’s James Brayshaw was on the money when he called the goal.

“That is goal of the year,” Brayshaw exclaimed in commentary.

“What happens here, you cannot describe. That’s no chance.”

Yes, it was. And it was also one of a career-high four goals for McKenna on the night.

Then last weekend, McKenna was at his Gaelic football best in the first term against the Hawks, delivering another special treat, although it was overshadowed by the dramatic ending in the Lions’ nine-point win.

In a tight and tense first term, McKenna had fans roaring when he exquisitely dribbled the football with his right foot away from a pack of players, before soccering it through for a goal on the outside of his boot.

It had all the hallmarks of his native Irish game, or the soccer skills of a Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, and sparked headlines in Ireland about how crucial McKenna had been in the Lions’ victory.

Now preparing for Saturday’s grand final against Fremantle, McKenna revealed he meticulously trained for those moments when something special was needed.

“I hope now people believe that I did it on purpose. I did it twice. It’s something that I try, I train it, and I play a bit of soccer, so it’s something I can do,” McKenna told this masthead.

It’s why the Dockers need to be on red alert any time the former All-Ireland winner is near goal. So, does he have anything lined up for this week?

“I’ll take any goal. As long as we win, I don’t care who scores,” he said.

It’s easy to see why Lions coach Chris Fagan has this season morphed McKenna into a dangerous half-forward, having spent most of his career with the Lions and Essendon as a rebounding half-back.

McKenna said his flair – evident in a soccer pass to Jarrod Berry in the qualifying final, as well as a Gaelic-style bounce off his foot while running down the wing against Carlton earlier in the year – was a testament to the work he had done as a junior.

“A bit of my Gaelic skills came in there. I have my club, Eglish, in County Tyrone to thank for that, so back to my young days,” McKenna told Seven upon accepting the award on Monday night.

“A few of the boys thought it was a fluke, but I did it again at the weekend [against Hawthorn] so I guess it’s not really.”

McKenna played forward in his second stint in the GAA, having returned home after a short stint with the Bombers ending in a turbulent 2020 season when he tested positive for COVID-19.

He said this year playing forward was a natural fit, but his overall skills have allowed the Lions to also use him as a defensive forward, curbing the opposition’s best rebounding half-back.

That was the case in the winning semi-final against Adelaide, when he went to Wayne Milera and held him to a largely ineffectual 19 possessions. And it was reinforced against the Hawks when he had the job of curtailing All-Australian Jarman Impey.

McKenna held him to only 11 disposals on a night Impey was best remembered as the man who was tackled and conceded the game-winning goal.

That the Lions also boast the dynamic duo of Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann inside attacking 50 keeps opponents – and those splicing up the highlight reels – on their toes.

“Ah, listen, as I say, our forward line is pretty unique. As long as we’re kicking goals, it doesn’t matter who’s kicking them,” McKenna said.

“As long as we come out on top at the end of the day, I don’t care who scores goals. It’s a team effort.”

Fremantle great David Mundy said he expected McKenna to have the job on Jordan Clark on Saturday.

“He is mixing the Gaelic and AFL better than anyone. He has re-invented himself in that defensive type of football role,” Mundy said.

“His speed and ability to get back to goal is an incredible threat. His [goal] in the prelim was better than his goal of the year, it showed a little bit more control and deliberate action about it.

“He is incredibly dangerous because his skill set is different. You might think about it, you might plan for it, but in the heat of the moment, you see something that is a little bit different, and it takes you a second to react, and then he is gone.”

McKenna has already enjoyed much success, having won an All-Ireland Gaelic title with his home county, Tyrone, 2021, before rejoining the AFL and linking with the Lions for their 2024 premiership. He missed out on last year’s premiership, but now has the opportunity to again make a mark - or goal - on the biggest day of the AFL calendar.

“I suppose we’ve been there the last three years so, hopefully, it’ll give us an advantage. Doesn’t mean it always will, but we’ve been there and experienced the whole week, so hopefully it can, but not definitely,” McKenna said.

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