Pat McKenna regaining trust in his body, Gisborne reaping the rewards on the field
Pat McKenna is happy just to play his role. After returning to Gisborne from a four-year stint in the AFL, the star goalkicker is fit again and hoping to fire the Bulldogs to success.
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Playing 13 games in a row was a pipe dream for Pat McKenna during his four years in the AFL system.
However, a return to his junior club Gisborne this season has helped him regain trust in his body and reproduce the performances that saw him first drafted by GWS with pick No.23 in 2014.
Likewise, the Bulldogs have benefited from McKenna’s return.
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Gisborne sits second on the Bendigo Football League ladder and McKenna second on the goalkicking charts with 58 majors.
“It’s good to have some continuity and trust in the body after a frustrating couple of years,” he said.
“I’ve been lucky to benefit from our strong midfield (at Gisborne).
“The way we’ve been getting the ball and pumping it in, giving the forwards plenty of supply, I’ve been the beneficiary or their hard work, to be honest.”
Such has been McKenna’s return to form he was selected for Vic Country’s match against VAFA last weekend.
McKenna could arguably walk into most midfields but was happy to play his role up forward for Gisborne.
“I thought forward would be the best spot for me and the team,” he said.
“With the calibre of players - (Matt) Goodyear, (Ethan) Minns and (Brad) Bernacki - in the midfield, there wasn’t a need for me.
“We’ve got a strong backline - James Ferry, Tim Walsh - as well, so (forward) was one of the spots that we looked at that needed improvement.”
McKenna has formed a deadly partnership with Jack Scanlon (24 goals) and Jake Conolan (14 goals) in the attacking half.
The 22-year-old is certainly keeping busy, working with at coach Clinton Young at the Simon Black Academy, studying Health Science at La Trobe while also an assistant with Melbourne’s AFLW team.
After breaking a three-year finals drought last year, the Bulldogs are looking for a deep finals run.
McKenna said there was still needed to prove themselves against the competition’s best.
“We’ve just got to keep getting better,” he said.
“We played Strathfieldsaye in Round 4 and they touched us up and Golden Square in Round 9 and they touched us up as well.
“While we’re second on the ladder and right up there, first and third both gave us touch ups.
“We’ve got to keep improving so that come finals time we’re primed to take it up to those top teams.”
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