Bendigo Football League: Pat McKenna signs at Gisborne after four years in AFL

One of Gisborne’s favourites has returned to the Bendigo Football League club after four years in the AFL system.

Pat McKenna after he was drafted by Greater Western Sydney. Pictue: Colleen Petch.

GISBORNE has regained Pat McKenna after his four-year stint in the AFL system in a major boost for the Bendigo Football League club.

The Bulldogs junior returns as a one-point player after he was taken by Greater Western Sydney in the 2014 AFL National Draft.

McKenna had two years with the Giants before being traded to Melbourne, where he also spent two seasons.

Pat McKenna has returned to Bendigo Football League club Gisborne. Picture: Facebook

The 22-year-old was Gisborne’s leading goalkicker four years ago with 45 majors and the signing comes at a good time, with the developing side snapping a three-year absence from finals in 2018.

“He was recruited out of the Bendigo league and as an under-age player I think he already started to make a little bit of an impact,” Bulldogs president John Wood said.

“You’d think with four years in the system that that would also add to his repertoire.

“His family is a strong Gisborne family and his brother Eamon plays.

“When he didn’t have AFL duties, Pat was around the club.

“A lot of his good mates are up here, so from that point of view we were as confident as we could be (he would return).”

Pat McKenna after he was drafted by Greater Western Sydney. Pictue: Colleen Petch.

While McKenna, who is also a gun cricketer, has showcased his aptitude in the attacking half at Gardiner Reserve, he is a versatile player capable of filling a role in any area of the ground.

His time at the elite level was punctuated by hamstring injuries and he failed to play a senior match.

But McKenna was a member of Casey Demons’ losing grand final side in the VFL this year and managed to gain some continuity in the second-half of the campaign, making nine appearances.

Gisborne has re-signed most of its list, headlined by the top three in its best and fairest — Jack Reaper, Ethan Minns and Matt Goodyear.

“Pretty much the entire senior list has recommitted,” Wood said.

“There’s a couple where there’s a little question mark, but that’s only work issues. I don’t anticipate we’ll lose any to other clubs.

“There might be a couple that will have VFL duties again, but in terms of retention, that seems to be all good.”

The Bulldogs finished the home-and-away season in fifth spot before losing to Sandhurst in the opening week of finals.

“We were both happy to make the finals and thought we let a bit of an opportunity slip,” Wood said.

“Sandhurst are a great side. The door was a bit ajar and we just needed to take that step through I thought.”