EDFLgarNNG_253.jpg: Garfield’s Mal McKenna hits the contest hard in his final game against Nar Nar Goon and Josh Grant. 85161. Picture: DONNA OATES
By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE most memorable moment of Mal McKenna’s career came on Saturday in his 300th and final game for his beloved Garfield.
“When I kicked my first goal of the game the boys got around me like I’d just won the grand final,” he said.
“It was a pretty special moment and I just lost it.
“That’ll be stuck in my mind for a while, I think.”
On the eve of his milestone, the Stars’ spearhead knew the match could be his last.
And after talking to coach and great mate Brent Eastwell prior to the game, he was certain of it.
Retirement had been in the back of the 35-year-old’s mind all season and he knew it was time for the Stars’ young brigade to stand up.
It wasn’t McKenna’s choice to make way for the fresh legs of Garfield’s young brigade for last season’s EDFL decider, but it was one he gladly made last weekend.
“Speaking with the older blokes around the club, they never planned it (their retirement), but they knew the time was right when it came around,” McKenna said.
“They all said the hardest part was watching the boys play again without them.”
Amongst McKenna’s favourite memories were the Stars’ 2004 premiership win and his appearance on the MCG for the West Gippsland interleague side.
“It was just an eerie experience,” he said.
And he says he couldn’t have reached the heights he did without the unwavering support of his family, including wife Kerri.
McKenna said he’ll spend the next few weeks away from his beloved club but he hopes the Stars will make a deep finals push.
And as for final words to his team-mates after Garfield’s big win over The Goon on Saturday: “I can’t remember,” McKenna said.
“I was too busy sooking.”
