Corey McKernan

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Corey McKernan (born 19 December 1973) is a former Australian rules football player.

He was a dual premiership player (1996, 1999) for the North Melbourne Kangaroos, best remembered for his 1996 season in which he achieved All-Australian honours and controversially missed winning the Brownlow Medal despite polling the most votes due to suspension. A small consolation was the awarding of the Leigh Matthews Trophy by the AFL Players Association for Most Valuable Player in the league that year.

Recruited from Westmeadows Football Club in the Essendon District Football League, McKernan began a promising career at North by polling the highest in the AFL Rising Star in 1995, but missed the award due to suspension for tripping.

The 197cm, 105kg mobile ruckman was dominant at the peak of his career, often turning games with his high leap, ability to regularly take contested marks and long kicking. He was often overshadowed at North however, due to the celebration of champion teammate Wayne Carey, though both players often combined effectively to form a powerful forward line and win games.

Among McKernan's other honours, he played in a pre-season premiership side in 1995 and represented Victoria in State of Origin.

Due to injury, suspension and poor form, McKernan went to the Carlton Blues, playing only a handful of games before returning to North for one last season after which he retired.

[1]This is a typical McKernan play which made him a renowned champion in footballing circles.