Conor McKenna will have to overcome the MCG factor on Grand Final day to become the first Ulster-born player to win an AFL Premiership and only the second Irishman in history to hold both AFL and All-Ireland winner’s medals after Tadhg Kennelly.

Tyrone medal winner is part of the Brisbane Lions who face Sydney Swans in the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne on Saturday

If the Melbourne Cup is the race that stops Australia, then the grand final is the game that stops the state of Victoria. But tomorrow’s AFL showpiece is one with a difference. For the first time since 2006,

In typical understated fashion, All-Ireland winner Conor McKenna would rather the focus be on his Brisbane Lions teammates instead of himself when he walks out in front of 100,000 supporters in the AFL Grand Final at the MCG on Saturday.

Tyrone man bids to join Zach Tuohy, Mark O’Connor and Tadhg Kennelly as winners of Aussie Rules’ greatest prize.

Conor McKenna will gladly embrace the tag of “super sub” if it means he will have the necessary impact off the bench to help Brisbane win Saturday’s AFL grand final.

In the small hours of Saturday morning, Conor McKenna has a chance to join Tadhg Kennelly as the second man to add an AFL Premiership title to an All-Ireland medal.