Corey McKernan
Encyclopedia
Corey McKernan is a former Australian rules football
er who played for the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Carlton Blues in the Australian Football League
(AFL). A dual Premiership player a one time All Australian at North Melbourne and one time club best and fairest winner and leading goal kicker at Carlton, McKernan was, at one time considered to be one of very best players in the country.
's western suburbs and was recruited to North Melbourne from Westmeadows Football Club in the Essendon District Football League
as a 197 cm, 105 kg mobile ruckman
, prior to the 1993 AFL season
. In his first season at AFL level, he played just one game, a loss to St Kilda in round 17.
, McKernan had an impressive start to his AFL
Career, after being elevated by coach Denis Pagan
to the starting line up. He quickly gained a reputation as a mobile and agile ruckman who was a strong over head mark and potent part time forward. At the end of the season he polled the most votes in the Norwich Rising Star award, but was ineligible to win the award due to a suspension he received earlier in the year.
, in which he continued to improve, McKernan took his game to new level in 1996
. Alternating between the Ruck and forward line, McKernan was dominant, often turning games with his high leap, ability to regularly take contested marks and long kicking. Not to be overshadowed by his superstar captain Wayne Carey
, at seasons end the AFL Players Association
awarded him its Most Valuable Player
award (now known as the Leigh Matthew Trophy). Disappointingly however for McKernan, history repeated itself in 1996 when he polled the equal most votes in the game's highest individual honor, the Brownlow Medal
, but was ineligible to win the medal due to an earlier suspension that season. North Melbourne went on to win the 1996 AFL Premiership, with McKernan typically magnificent in the Grand Final against Sydney
. His career high 29 disposals came in the Grand Final. To add to his list of honors, McKeranan was named first Ruckman in the All Australian team and some experts had him ahead of teammate Carey as the best player in the league.
, Wayne Carey was seriously injured and missed the following 11 weeks. With Carey out, McKernan, in just his fourth full season, became the most important player at the club. Though consistent and effective, he could not repeat his inspirational efforts of the previous year. In North Melbourne's Preliminary Final against St Kilda, McKernan dislocated his shoulder in the opening minutes and watched from the sidelines as his team went down by 31 points. The following year was disappointing for both McKernan and the Kangaroos, however in 1999, another premiership year for North Melbourne, he returned to some good form, leading the team in marks and kicking 34 goals from his 24 games. He finished the season with three goals in North Melbourne's Grand Final win over Carlton.
took on most of the ruck duties for North. McKernan was second in the Kangaroos' goal kicking in both 2000 and 2001
, with 40 and 38 goals respectively. He kicked a career high 8 goals against Geelong
in round 19 of 2000 – a game in which he also had 8 marks, 23 disposals and 11 hit outs.
, McKernan was traded to Carlton where he played the next two seasons. His first season at Carlton was amongst his best since 1996. He led the Blues in hit outs and goals and claimed his first and only club best and fairest award.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Carlton Blues in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). A dual Premiership player a one time All Australian at North Melbourne and one time club best and fairest winner and leading goal kicker at Carlton, McKernan was, at one time considered to be one of very best players in the country.
Early years
McKernan grew up in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's western suburbs and was recruited to North Melbourne from Westmeadows Football Club in the Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
as a 197 cm, 105 kg mobile ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
, prior to the 1993 AFL season
1993 AFL season
-Ladder:All teams played 20 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. Each team also had two byes. An additional 7 games were played during the finals series.-Awards:*The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gavin Wanganeen of ....
. In his first season at AFL level, he played just one game, a loss to St Kilda in round 17.
1994
The following year, 19941994 AFL season
-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. An additional 9 games were played during the finals series. It was the first season that the AFL implemented a top 8 team finals series...
, McKernan had an impressive start to his AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
Career, after being elevated by coach Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan is a former Australian rules football coach and player in the VFL/AFL. He is current coach of Northern Knights in TAC Cup.-Playing career:...
to the starting line up. He quickly gained a reputation as a mobile and agile ruckman who was a strong over head mark and potent part time forward. At the end of the season he polled the most votes in the Norwich Rising Star award, but was ineligible to win the award due to a suspension he received earlier in the year.
1996
After another solid season in 19951995 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1995.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:*This was the first ANZAC Day clash held between Collingwood and Essendon which famously ended in a draw.-Round 5:-Round 6:...
, in which he continued to improve, McKernan took his game to new level in 1996
1996 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1996.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Lighting Premiership:...
. Alternating between the Ruck and forward line, McKernan was dominant, often turning games with his high leap, ability to regularly take contested marks and long kicking. Not to be overshadowed by his superstar captain Wayne Carey
Wayne Carey
Wayne Carey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne and Adelaide Football Clubs in the Australian Football League ....
, at seasons end the AFL Players Association
AFL Players Association
The AFL Players Association, or AFLPA, is the representative body for all current and past professional Australian Football League players....
awarded him its Most Valuable Player
Leigh Matthews Trophy
The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. It is named in honour of Leigh Matthews, who won the first MVP award in 1982, when the league was still known as the Victorian Football League...
award (now known as the Leigh Matthew Trophy). Disappointingly however for McKernan, history repeated itself in 1996 when he polled the equal most votes in the game's highest individual honor, the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
, but was ineligible to win the medal due to an earlier suspension that season. North Melbourne went on to win the 1996 AFL Premiership, with McKernan typically magnificent in the Grand Final against Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. His career high 29 disposals came in the Grand Final. To add to his list of honors, McKeranan was named first Ruckman in the All Australian team and some experts had him ahead of teammate Carey as the best player in the league.
1997 to 1999
In round 1 of 19971997 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1997.The Port Adelaide Power joined the competition.The Brisbane Lions also joined the competition after the merger of the and ....
, Wayne Carey was seriously injured and missed the following 11 weeks. With Carey out, McKernan, in just his fourth full season, became the most important player at the club. Though consistent and effective, he could not repeat his inspirational efforts of the previous year. In North Melbourne's Preliminary Final against St Kilda, McKernan dislocated his shoulder in the opening minutes and watched from the sidelines as his team went down by 31 points. The following year was disappointing for both McKernan and the Kangaroos, however in 1999, another premiership year for North Melbourne, he returned to some good form, leading the team in marks and kicking 34 goals from his 24 games. He finished the season with three goals in North Melbourne's Grand Final win over Carlton.
2000 and 2001
Later in his career, McKernan became more of a forward and backup ruckman as Matthew BurtonMatthew Burton
Matthew "Spider" Burton was an Australian rules footballer. He played as a ruckman and began his Football career at Subiaco. "Spider" Burton, as he's commonly known, because of his towering 210 cm frame, was formerly the AFL's tallest player Matthew "Spider" Burton (born 19 May 1970) was an...
took on most of the ruck duties for North. McKernan was second in the Kangaroos' goal kicking in both 2000 and 2001
2001 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2001.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:Port Adelaide defeated Brisbane Lions 17.9 to 3.8 in the Final....
, with 40 and 38 goals respectively. He kicked a career high 8 goals against Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in round 19 of 2000 – a game in which he also had 8 marks, 23 disposals and 11 hit outs.
Carlton
In 20022002 AFL season
-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 176...
, McKernan was traded to Carlton where he played the next two seasons. His first season at Carlton was amongst his best since 1996. He led the Blues in hit outs and goals and claimed his first and only club best and fairest award.
Back to North Melbourne
After a disappointing 2003 at Carlton, McKernan returned to the Kangaroos for one last season in 2004, after which he retired due to injury and poor form.Career statistics
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Disposals | Kicks Kick (football) Kicking is a method used by many types of football, including:* Association football* Australian rules football* International rules football* American football* Canadian football* Gaelic football* Rugby league* Rugby union... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Tackles Tackle (football move) Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend.... |
Hit Outs | Goals | Behinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 1993 AFL season -Ladder:All teams played 20 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. Each team also had two byes. An additional 7 games were played during the finals series.-Awards:*The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gavin Wanganeen of .... |
North Melbourne | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 1994 AFL season -Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. An additional 9 games were played during the finals series. It was the first season that the AFL implemented a top 8 team finals series... |
North Melbourne | 31 | 21 | 294 | 181 | 113 | 110 | 12 | 183 | 22 | 19 |
| 1995 1995 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1995.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:*This was the first ANZAC Day clash held between Collingwood and Essendon which famously ended in a draw.-Round 5:-Round 6:... |
North Melbourne | 31 | 25 | 332 | 202 | 130 | 116 | 6 | 198 | 19 | 14 |
| 1996 1996 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1996.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Lighting Premiership:... |
North Melbourne | 31 | 24 | 423 | 312 | 111 | 154 | 17 | 284 | 33 | 30 |
| 1997 1997 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1997.The Port Adelaide Power joined the competition.The Brisbane Lions also joined the competition after the merger of the and .... |
North Melbourne | 31 | 22 | 316 | 237 | 79 | 134 | 13 | 143 | 22 | 14 |
| 1998 | North Melbourne | 31 | 21 | 257 | 185 | 72 | 91 | 18 | 240 | 25 | 15 |
| 1999 | North Melbourne | 31 | 24 | 351 | 253 | 98 | 151 | 14 | 324 | 34 | 22 |
| 2000 | North Melbourne | 31 | 23 | 311 | 231 | 80 | 135 | 15 | 150 | 40 | 22 |
| 2001 2001 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2001.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:Port Adelaide defeated Brisbane Lions 17.9 to 3.8 in the Final.... |
North Melbourne | 31 | 21 | 212 | 160 | 52 | 99 | 11 | 98 | 38 | 15 |
| 2002 2002 AFL season -Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 176... |
Carlton | 2 | 22 | 239 | 170 | 69 | 94 | 27 | 214 | 40 | 26 |
| 2003 2003 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2003.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
Carlton | 2 | 19 | 154 | 110 | 44 | 61 | 12 | 163 | 20 | 16 |
| 2004 2004 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St... |
North Melbourne | 5 | 14 | 117 | 89 | 28 | 55 | 23 | 146 | 17 | 9 |
| Career Totals | 237 | 3012 | 2135 | 877 | 1201 | 170 | 2146 | 310 | 202 | ||