Father of AFL star Conor McKenna tackled by security at Grand Final
Pat McKenna's attempt to reach his son on the field after Brisbane's premiership win was halted by a security guard, leading to intervention from the player.
Conor McKenna's father received a jarring introduction to his son's premiership celebrations when an MCG security guard tackled him to the ground as he attempted to join the on-field festivities following Brisbane's Grand Final victory. The incident occurred moments after the Brisbane Lions secured their third consecutive premiership by defeating Fremantle.
Pat McKenna had tried to run onto the field to celebrate with his son, an Irish native who moved to Australia to pursue an AFL career. However, his impromptu dash was intercepted by a stadium security official, bringing him down. The Brisbane star, Conor McKenna, then stepped in to identify his father and de-escalate the situation during the post-match celebrations.
The unusual interruption added a peculiar chapter to a significant day for the McKenna family. Conor McKenna was celebrating his second AFL premiership, having overcome an injury-plagued 2025 season that limited his appearances. He also contributed a goal in the Grand Final, as Brisbane staged a comeback to defeat Fremantle by seven points in front of 100,023 spectators.
This victory capped a notable season for the former Tyrone Gaelic football star, who had previously won the AFL's Goal of the Year award for a spectacular effort against Collingwood, earning him $50,000. His father, Pat, is a horse trainer in Ireland.
Questions regarding McKenna's future in the AFL have persisted, with the Lions having offered him a contract extension. He has been weighing his options between continuing his career in Australia or returning to his family in Ireland. Following the Grand Final win, McKenna expressed his desire to stay with Brisbane for the upcoming season, stating, "Yeah, hopefully [I'll be here next year]. I still want to come back. I'm happy to come back, so we'll see what happens."
His comments suggest a potential return to Brisbane, which would further postpone a possible return to play Gaelic football for Tyrone, the county he helped win the All-Ireland title with in 2021.