Essendon knock off rivals North Melbourne as Roo taunts Conor McKenna during halftime scuffle
Luke McDonald directed a coronavirus-themed sledge the way of returning Bomber Conor McKenna and has apologised for mocking him. Roos coach Rhyce Shaw has called out the incident.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
North Melbourne tagger Luke McDonald has apologised to Essendon speedster Conor McKenna for his coronavirus taunt.
McDonald called the Irishman to personally issue an apology for covering his mouth and mocking the only AFL player who has tested positive to the virus.
Kangaroos coach Rhyce Shaw was not impressed with his player.
“I want to address the Luke McDonald and Conor McKenna incident from the weekend,” Shaw said.
“It’s not on, and not something we stand for. Luke has called Conor and apologised”.
The AFL was set to investigate the incident at its Monday morning review of Round 6.
McDonald has been in super form for the Kangaroos, quelling Marcus Bontempelli and Dylan Shiel in the past two weeks.
The sledge has taken the gloss off his impressive roles as a run-with midfielder.
Former Bombers captain Brendon Goddard couldn’t understand what McDonald was thinking.
“What is he trying to sledge a bloke for potentially testing positive for a virus?” Goddard said on ABC.
“It’s a bit of a dig at Luke and questioning his intelligence but it’s kind of stupid in my opinion.
“I always thought a good sledge is one with a little bit of wit and whatever. But to pot a bloke about potentially having a virus … in today’s climate?”
AFL TO CONSIDER PLEASE EXPLAIN FOR MCDONALD
Jon Ralph
The AFL will on Monday consider whether to issue North Melbourne’s Luke McDonald with a please explain for his cheeky taunt towards Essendon’s Conor McKenna on Saturday night.
McDonald covered his mouth to mock McKenna, who is the only AFL player so far to test positive for coronavirus.
The Herald Sun understands the taunt came after a fiery few minutes where the pair were sledging each other.
It would be at the very low end of the threshold if the AFL did issue McDonald with a please explain and likely see him forced to apologise rather than be fined.
The AFL did not fine Sam Mitchell for his drug taunts to Essendon’s players, but he was forced to apologise.
Last year Richmond’s Dustin Martin was fined $2500 plus a $5000 suspended fine for flipping the bird as well as taunting Shane Mumford with a snorting motion in reference to his previous drug use.
Former Essendon midfielder Brendon Goddard said on ABC Radio McDonald’s action was a poor look given so many people world-wide had died from coronavirus.
McKenna only came back into the Essendon team after three separate stints in isolation and performed well.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“Why is he trying to sledge a bloke for potentially testing positive for a virus,” Goddard told ABC Radio.
“It’s a bit of a dig at Luke and question his intelligence but it’s kind of stupid in my opinion.
“I always thought a good sledge is one with a little bit of it. But to pot a bloke about potentially having a virus… in today’s climate?”
Essendon coach John Worsfold told 3AW on Sunday he wasn’t too upset with the taunt.
“It hit a nerve with a few people and I understand that,” he said.
“For most people who have contracted the covid virus it hasn’t been through trying to contact it . He has travelled overseas which put him at huge risk of picking it up somewhere along the line. I dont think it’s saying he’s a dirty person or not living hygienically.
“He was a plyer who has had to spend two weeks in quarantine. Luke McDonald was aware of that and made it clear but Conor saw the humorous side of it and it certainly didn’t’ phase me too much.”
Luke McDonald covered his face in front of Conor McKenna 😷 pic.twitter.com/6oZvvHZDbB
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 11, 2020
Day of highlights. What were yours??
— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) July 11, 2020
Mystery shot 🇠💨 @NicNat 📱 brilliant @ryanpapenhuyzen try ðŸƒâ€â™‚ï¸âš¡ï¸
Luke McDonald sledge 😂😂😂
Luke McDonald is an A grade tosser https://t.co/YvicVYedeZ
— Maddy (@madsssss__) July 11, 2020
MCKENNA HAS LAST LAUGH AFTER MCDONALD SLEDGE
Scott Gullan
North Melbourne’s Luke McDonald has taunted Essendon’s Connor McKenna by covering his face during a spiteful clash on Saturday night.
McKenna was playing his first game for the season after testing positive to the coronavirus last month which forced his club into lockdown.
The confrontation was captured by Channel 7 cameras with social media melting down about McDonald’s gesture
McKenna had the last laugh, playing a pivotal role in Essendon’s 14-point win over the Kangaroos.
Essendon coach John Worsfold said it had been a “tough” couple of months for his defender.
“It has been a tough couple of months for him, he has been in three lots of quarantine and all he wants to do is play footy,” Worsfold said.
“It was good just to get him out there and he’s only going to continue to improve.”
ZAHARAKIS LEADS DONS TO TRIUMPH OVER ROOS
Scott Gullan
The Bombers were led brilliantly by veteran David Zaharakis who turned his poor season around with three goals while Andy McGrath and Darcy Parish were dominant through the midfield.
Zaharakis, 30, had just two touches last week against Collingwood but finished with 20 possessions against the Kangaroos.
“It’s a new role for me this year, playing up forward,” he said. “It’s different to how I have played in the last 10 years of my career
“We’ve moved a few guys around because of the system we’re now playing and some weeks you will get more of it than others.”.
On a greasy night at Metricon Stadium where goals were difficult to come by, Zaharakis kicked three from 20 touches to continue his club‘s torment of North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos have now lost five straight against their arch rivals but more importantly this was their fourth loss in a row this season.
Apart from ruckman Todd Goldstein‘s domination, there wasn’t much to like about Rhyce Shaw’s team who struggled without midfield general Ben Cunnington, skipper Jack Ziebell and Jed Anderson who was a late withdrawal.
Zaharakis wasn‘t the only Bomber to enjoy a “comeback” game with Irishman Connor McKenna impressing in his return to AFL football after a tumultuous off-season.
McKenna slotted into halfback and bounced around for 18 possessions.
TIPPA ON FIRE
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s amazing journey has been celebrated by many except North Melbourne fans.
Every club seems to have a player that without fail comes back to haunt them and for the Roos it‘s the Essendon livewire.
In Round 19 last year he kicked the winning goal - his fourth of the night - in the final 30 seconds.
This time around he was again clearly the most dangerous and dynamic player on the ground in the first half with his skills shining out on a night where so many struggled with the conditions.
McDonald-Tipungwuti had 12 possessions and a goal in the first half with his forward pressure also setting up teammate Will Snelling for an important late goal in the third quarter
MCDONALD CLAIMS ANOTHER SCALP
Luke McDonald‘s reputation as a tagger continues to be enhanced with Dylan Shiel his latest scalp.
Shiel was best-on-ground last week against Collingwood but he was taken out of action by McDonald who has shone since switching from the backline to a run-with role.
Five touches each was the sum of the battle at halftime with the Bombers playmaker dealing with a leg issue which delayed his return in the third quarter.
Shiel finished with just 12 touches and an anxious 24 hours given he will come under scrutiny for a front-on bump on North youngster Curtis Taylor which forced him off the field in the third term.
While the move was a win for North, there were a number of Shiel‘s teammates willing to take up the slack including youngster Darcy Parish who had 14 contested possessions from his 20 touches and Andrew McGrath (25 disposals).
BROWN’S LEAN SPELL CONTINUES
Ben Brown was the hero for North in that Round 19 clash last year.
He took 12 marks and kicked six goals but unfortunately the Kangaroos spearhead is nowhere near that form at the moment.
After six rounds he only has 7 goals with his only major last night coming from one metre out after his opponent Cale Hooker fell over.
The Roos tried something different to help Brown with rarely used ruckman Tom Campbell brought in to play alongside him but the dewy conditions didn‘t help the twin towers.
Does Dylan Shiel have anything to worry about? pic.twitter.com/6zgMXSyQTP
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 11, 2020
ESSENDON 2.5 5.11 8.11 9.13 (67)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.4 4.7 6.11 7.11 (53)
GOALS
Essendon: Zaharakis 3, Langford 2, Laverde, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Snelling, Townsend
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 2, Scott, Higgins, Goldstein, Brown, Atley
BEST:
Essendon: Zaharakis, Parish, McGrath, Ridley, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Smith
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Zurhaar, McDonald, Simpkin, Hall.
VOTES
3 - David Zaharakis (Essendon)
2 - Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
1 - Darcy Parish (Essendon)
Originally published as Essendon knock off rivals North Melbourne as Roo taunts Conor McKenna during halftime scuffle