Disillusioned with football during the COVID-19 pandemic, Conor McKenna has become just the second player to win an AFL premiership and an All-Ireland Gaelic football title.
After struggling with injury early in the 2024 season, McKenna was recalled as Brisbane's sub during all four of the Lions' finals wins, including the grand final smashing of Sydney.
The 28-year-old was able to celebrate joining Sydney great Tadhg Kennelly in the rare Irish club by having his parents Pat and Sheila, and other loved ones, with him in the victorious Lions rooms on Saturday night.
McKenna returned home after the 2020 AFL season following six seasons at Essendon, going on to win an All-Ireland with Tyrone in 2021.
He returned to the AFL in 2023, playing in two grand finals - one loss, one win - in his two seasons with the Lions.
McKenna's father Pat was "very proud" of his son for overcoming adversity to be an AFL premiership player.
"To come over to the other side of the world and to achieve that this year and to have a break in between his football and to come back with the team that's just won the premiership, it's unbelievable," Pat told AAP.
"To be fair, he had a great time at Essendon, but when COVID hit he got a bit disillusioned with it - I don't think he was treated that well (by the media) and he sort of lost a bit of heart in it.
"Even when he came back here, he took the risk.
"There was contact to pick a team that he thought was going to be successful in the AFL and get to the final - and he's done that."
Conor described his stint in Brisbane as "surreal" and said it was special to have his family celebrate with him.
"I'm sure many people wrote us off, commentators, journalists wrote us off, but it's unbelievable that we've come back here and won," he told AAP.
"It just speaks volumes to the club and the people they have, it's actually unbelievable.
"I can say I do believe we're still getting better, we've got plenty of young players coming through, and some guys that were injured that are going to come back in next year.
"It's going be a tough team to get a game in."
McKenna draped the Irish flag around him during the post-game celebrations on Saturday, and even wore it as a makeshift dress to the Lions' family day in Melbourne on Sunday.
The flag was also proudly on display when the Lions made their triumphant return to Brisbane later on Sunday.
