Tyrone and Essendon's Conor McKenna remains firmly in the eye of a massive media storm in Australia after testing positive for covid-19.
McKenna tested positive for the coronavirus Saturday, which lead to Essendon's game against Melbourne being cancelled. While Essendon are awaiting more info on McKenna's test - and there's a theory it may have been a false positive - the Tyrone man has inspired many emotional and troubling reactions from Australians desperate to see Aussie Rules back.
It's believed - but not confirmed - that McKenna may have broken lockdown restrictions by viewing a house and visiting friends last week. McKenna's battles with homesickness have been well-documented and this period must be so difficult for him.
McKenna has been scapegoated on social and broadcast media. On the 2GB radio station this morning, shock jock Ray Hadley called out McKenna's 'stupidity'.
"He came back from his native Ireland, went into two weeks quarantine and then he broke just about every AFL rule they put in place in relation to isolation."
"He went to a home inspection with his partner, that was barred. He visited friends and that was barred and he was told with all the AFL players to isolate.
"To my way of thinking, McKenna typifies the attitude of many Victorians: The rules don't apply to me and hence we have what we have now.
"As a result of McKenna's actions, the AFL season is on tenterhooks because of this bloke, six of his teammates can't play and Essendon are a basket case.
"The AFL will be a basket case because of the stupidity of one person.
"He should be suspended indefinitely for an act of stupidity that could cost the AFL hundreds of millions of dollars."
If you're looking for background on Hadley, only last week he was found to have breached Australia's decency rules after threatening violence on someone on social media:
Hadley called the user a “flea” and a “low-life dog” as well as suggesting they would be “be drinking through a straw for a long, long time” if he or his family members found the user.
This take from Daniel Cherny of The Age is the view from Australia we're the most partial to:
No idea how he got it but you have to feel for Conor McKenna. Clearly the guy struggles with homesickness and now he’s got COVID-19, is in the middle of an enormous media storm and will have to self-isolate for another couple of weeks.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) June 20, 2020
