Conor McKenna has become only the second player in history to win both an All-Ireland football and AFL Grand Final winner’s medal, after Brisbane Lions hammered the Sydney Swans by 60 points in front of a crowd of 100,013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
McKenna, who won the Sam Maguire with Tyrone in 2021 before reigniting his AFL career last season as the Lions made the 2023 Grand Final only to lose to Collingwood, etched his name into the record books once more.
There was no mistake this time around as they hammered the Swans, scoring 18 goals in the process, twice that of the Swans.
McKenna’s own contribution was limited, as Lions coach Chris Fagan went with different options, but he made an appearance in the fourth quarter.
Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly was a member of the Swans side that won the 2005 Grand Final before coming home to help the Kingdom win the 2009 All-Ireland title.
In a one-sided grand final, the underdog Lions took control in a dominant second quarter before running out with a 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) victory.
Saturday’s title win was Brisbane’s first since 2003, and fourth since the AFL become a national competition in 1990.
“Losing last year by a kick [and] to come home like we did, I’m so proud of this club and this group,” said Lions co-captain Lachie Neale, before accepting the trophy.
Callum Ah Chee and Kai Lohmann kicked four goals apiece for the Lions.
It was Brisbane’s first title since their famous hat-trick from 2001-03 and was redemption after they lost by four points to Collingwood last year.
Brisbane turned their season around after winning just two of their first seven matches.
“To play like this after what happened last year and at the start of the season … I’m lost for words,” said Lions star Lachie Neale, who finished with a game-high 34 possessions.
Sydney, who lost the 2022 grand final to Geelong, entered as favourites after finishing the regular season on top of the ladder.
The Swans kicked the opening two goals before the Lions steadied and led by eight points at quarter-time.
There were concerns that Brisbane might tire after needing big comebacks to pull out victories in their previous matches against Greater Western Sydney and Geelong.
But they were rampant in a blistering second quarter, kicking seven goals to one with forward Eric Hipwood nailing a miraculous shot deep in the right pocket.
The Lions led by 46 points at the main break and they cruised in the second-half.
It was a bitter disappointment for the Swans, who have lost four grand finals since winning in 2012.
From rugby heartland, it was the first time Sydney and Brisbane squared off in a decider.
The Historic Double
After today becoming only the second Irishman in history to do the double of winning an All-Ireland title and an AFL Premiership, Conor McKenna will one-day retire a happy man with his list of sporting accomplishments ticked off.
Having been named as Brisbane’s ‘Super Sub’ in their four play-off matches, the Eglish man never once let his head drop despite the frustration of losing his starting place to a combination of form and injury.
McKenna was only given a post-match rating of two out of ten by leading AFL journalists given he played less than 10 minutes of the Lions Grand Final mauling of the Sydney Swans, but statistics are meaningless when you have a premiership medal around your neck.
The Lions’ Rise to the Top
On the day that US pop star Katy Perry roared pre-game, and the Brisbane Lions roared loudest on the field where it mattered most, the Sydney Swans were effectively beaten in the second quarter.
The minor premiers were two goals up in the first quarter, but the Lions dominated the second quarter when they booted seven goals to one to put themselves in an unassailable position.
Brisbane’s miracle premiership is all the more remarkable given they were in disarray in thirteenth spot on the season ladder with only two wins from their first seven matches and no fewer than five key players out for the season requiring knee reconstructions.
Lions coach Chris Fagan, at 63 the oldest coach in history to win a premiership, called for his team to “dance on thin ice” and they kept dancing without ever falling in. Fagan’s charges now have their fourth AFL Premiership in their trophy cabinet, and their first since they won three in a row from 2002-2003.
“I’m so proud of the group, the resilience that they’ve shown this year,” Fagan said.
“We were looking down the barrel at the halfway mark [of the season] and somehow or other, it’s turned out like this.
“We certainly know how to do it the hard way, but it makes it all that better when you achieve it.”
Fagan, who has led the Lions since 2017, believes the key to their premiership triumph after finishing outside of the top four spots at the end of the regular season was turning their weakness into one of their biggest strengths.
Starting as underdogs they laid 19 more tackles than the Swans despite having 80 more disposals.
“Coming into the finals, our pressure hadn’t been all that good, it was probably our weakness,” Fagan explained.
“We talked about the idea that we could turn pressure into a secret weapon for us, because we hadn’t been doing it all that well, and across the course of the finals, our pressure has been enormous, and our better quarters, we’ve scored heavily.”
Fagan suggested his players will return next year determined to go back-to-back. McKenna has one-year remaining on his Brisbane deal, and if he was to win another premiership in 2025, he would standalone as the only Irishman to win two AFL premierships.
Looking Ahead
McKenna, who has always been known for his ability to adapt and excel in new situations, has shown that he can succeed on the biggest stage, both in Australia and Ireland. He is a true testament to the talent and determination of Irish athletes, and his incredible journey is an inspiration to many.
With his sights set on even more success, McKenna is poised to become a household name in the AFL, as he continues to make his mark on the sport.
