By Tara Murray
Gisborne has received a boost with former AFL listed player Pat McKenna returning to the club.
It was announced last week that McKenna, who spent two years at Greater Western Sydney and then two years with Melbourne, is returning to the Bulldogs where he played his junior football.
McKenna was selected by the Giants in 2014, after they were impressed with his performances in the Bulldogs senior team despite still being able to play under-18s.
McKenna kicked 45 goals that season, including nine in the final round of the home and away season against Kangaroo Flat.
Bulldogs president John Wood said they were thrilled to have McKenna back at the club.
Wood said they had been hopeful of McKenna rejoining the club after it was announced that he had been delisted.
McKenna didn’t play an AFL game with injuries affecting both his time at the Giants and Demons.
“Pat would be disappointed he was delisted, but from our point of view him coming back to us is a big acquisition,” Wood said.
“When he didn’t have commitments with Melbourne he was quite often at our games and he was at our functions.
“He has a lot of friends at the club and his brother Eamon plays, and his mum and dad are involved at the club.”
Wood said they were excited to get a player with his experience in the AFL system.
He joins coach Clinton Young and Matt Goodyear, as players on the Bulldogs list with AFL club experience.
“Four years ago he was drafted after playing senior football,” he said.
“Even at that point of time, he was going pretty well.
“With four years in the system, you would expect him to come back a better player.”
Wood said McKenna fits into the age bracket of players they are building the side around, and had the added bonus of playing with a lot of the players before.
The Bulldogs have been busy re-signing the current playing group.
Among those re-signed are Jack Reaper, Jack Minns and Goodyear, who finished top three in the club’s best and fairest this year.
Wood said they were on track to re-sign everyone, but could lose a couple due to work commitments.
Having returned to finals for the first time since 2014, Wood said they are in a good place to continue to climb up the ladder.
“Last season was a big step forward and a good effort to make final,” he said.
“From within the group, the message after the finals loss was that at three quarter time we were eight points down. It was good to make finals and a terrific achievement, but it’s what you do when you get there.”
FOR MORE GISBORNE FNC NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/gisborne-is-ready-to-peak/
