The Suns' first season in the AFL will require meticulous balance from the coaching staff as they look to play at least eight untried under 22-year-olds each week, given the list's unique make up.
While McKenna is confident the club's 2010 conditioning program will see the majority of his young players last the whole season, he is realistic about their chances of playing more than half of the Suns' fixture.
"I look at the young kids who have come onto the scene like Dustin Martin, who was a mature kid, and Tom Scully, who played 21 games last year," he told afl.com.au this week at the Suns' Telstra AFL Community Camp.
"On average, the top 10 last year played 12 games and that's our mark.
"If we can get Swallow, Bennell, Day … if we can give them 12 games of AFL experience, I'd be very happy."
Because the Suns have just 14 players over 22 and 12 with AFL experience, the percentage of their first-year players to debut this year will be higher than most clubs even in an above average year.
McKenna said it was impossible to predict how many games any of his young players would manage.
"We're not putting ceilings on that because there are some freaks and looking right now, players like Swallow, Mav Weller, even Dion Prestia are mature boys and are probably going to last longer than a Jacob Gilbee," he said.
"The big boys - Tom Lynch, Sam Day, Zac Smith, Tom Nicholls - are going to get battered, and at some stage will flatten off."
He predicted between eight and 10 games for defender Josh Toy, who had limited VFL opportunities in 2010 as he spent the year in Melbourne finishing year 12.
Despite the talent of his young players, McKenna is also realistic some are in for unavoidable shocks in their first game after spending 2010 in the VFL.
"There's only so much you can tell them about how fast and ferocious and tough it's going to be but once they get out there and witness it, they'll understand it needs to go to another level," he said.
"We can't manufacture that at training so that's why we have the NAB Cup before it goes to another level again in the season.
"They're like labour pains; they're just things you need to go through and the sooner you get through them, the better you're going to be."
The Suns will keep Alex Keath on their list for 2011 despite the talented sportsman's decision to pursue a cricketing career with Victoria.
"There's no point in delisting him and my fingers are crossed he'll go to the West Indies or South Africa and get his head bounced off by some bouncers and not enjoy it," McKenna said.
"With what we know about Alex, that's not going to happen. It's a formality to keep him on the list but there can be sliding doors - things can change and we live in hope."
