CONOR McKenna is set to return to the AFL with Brisbane on a one-year deal after deciding on the Lions as his preferred new home.

The former Bomber met with Brisbane, Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Essendon last week while in Australia as he weighed up his club of choice.

The Irishman retired in 2020 after six seasons with the Bombers to return home, where he claimed a championship in the Gaelic competition.

However the talented defender/forward has been keen to get back to Australia and pursue a return to the AFL and resume his career.

Brisbane has been long interested in the 26-year-old, having tried to lure him north while he was at the Bombers.

The club will be able to recruit him via the pre-season supplemental selection period.

Lions football manager Danny Daly said the club saw McKenna as a player who will add both run and speed.

"He showed in his time at Essendon that one of his strengths is that he can play at both ends of the ground, and he can also win plenty of the ball," Daly said.

"We look forward to Conor putting in a solid pre-season and helping us go that next step in 2023."

McKenna will commence pre-season training with the Lions on December 5.

"I wanted to come back to a club that was playing deep into finals pushing for a premiership and Brisbane have been doing that for the last number of years," McKenna said.

"The club has been great for both myself and my partner Amy in making us feel comfortable and putting foundations in place to make sure the move out goes as smooth as possible."