Essendon hopeful defender Conor McKenna will return before start of season after returning to Ireland for family reasons

Essendon faces the prospect of being without another senior star in Round 1 after Irishman Conor McKenna returned home citing family reasons and homesickness.

Conor McKenna has returned home to Ireland after suffering home sickness. Picture: AAP

Exciting Essendon defender Conor McKenna has flown home to Ireland after battling homesickness with no fixed return date locked in.

It is understood to be the third time since late last year the highly-rated 23-year-old has flown back to be with his family as the Bombers pledged to give him every support in an effort to get him playing AFL football again.

The Bombers are hopeful he might return to Melbourne for the start of the Marsh Community Series, but there are no guarantees.

Watch every match of the Marsh Community Series AFL pre-season comp LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Conor McKenna has returned home to Ireland after suffering home sickness. Picture: AAP

MORE MCKENNA:

Conor McKenna explains why he played in Gaelic footy match

John Worsfold says he was ‘really disappointed’ with Conor McKenna’s decision to play in a Gaelic football match

Essendon confirmed last night McKenna had “returned to his homeland of Ireland due to homesickness and family-related reasons”, stressing the club would provide whatever assistance it could for the player who finished fourth in the club’s best-and-fairest award.

It is yet another disruption to what has been a frustrating pre-season for the Bombers as a host of injuries and post-season surgeries have left the club vulnerable on the eve of the 2020 season.

Essendon general manager of football Dan Richardson said the club had been in “lengthy discussions with Conor over recent weeks and we are completely supportive of him returning home to be with his family at this time.”

“We remain in constant communication with both Conor and his family and we will continue to provide our support during this period.”

McKenna had fashioned himself into one of the best running defenders in the game. Picture: Getty Images

MORE AFL:

Andrew Phillips to push case for Round 1 after Tom Bellchambers undergoes knee surgery

AFL back-pedals on potential AFLM name change, floated by football boss Steve Hocking

Essendon coach John Worsfold expressed his disappointment late last year when McKenna played a game of Gaelic football back in Ireland without the club’s permission.

McKenna told Irish newspaper, the Independent, last December he would always suffer from homesickness while chasing his AFL career.

“I still probably suffer a bit with homesickness,” McKenna explained. “I’ve always been a home bird and the first couple of years were pretty tough, not really knowing if you want to go back at the end of the year and still kind of struggling to go back.”

“The club realise that I’ve probably struggled with homesickness for the last five years and will probably always struggle with it, it’s just something I’m dealing with and trying to make it easier.

“If you look at the stats, not a lot of Irish make it and it’s more from the homesickness than not being able to play the game.

“The majority of Irish players are skilful enough and have enough ability to get used to a different game.

“But it’s actually getting over the ability to be away from home and family … the homesickness is the main thing that lads suffer with.”

McKenna played 22 games last season, taking his tally to 73 from five seasons, elevating his importance to the Essendon side with 21 disposals per game.

Originally published as Essendon hopeful defender Conor McKenna will return before start of season after returning to Ireland for family reasons