ESSENDON'S Irish star Conor McKenna has returned home in the wake of the AFL season being suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

McKenna and his Bombers teammates Ross McQuillan and Cian McBride, as well as Magpies duo Anton Tohill and Mark Keane, and Giants youngster Callum Brown, are among a handful of players who have either returned to Ireland or are expected to imminently. 

Hawthorn defender Conor Glass and developing Brisbane speedster James Madden have also headed home.

However, a number of other Irish recruits across the competition – including Geelong trio Zach Tuohy, Mark O'Connor and Stefan Okunbur, Gold Coast's Pearce Hanley and St Kilda's Darragh Joyce – have opted to stay in Australia.

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Sydney defender Colin O'Riordan will also remain in the country.

Tightening travel regulations around the world, in conjunction with the season being suspended by the League until May 31, has seen a number of the competition's foreign stars consider their futures in recent days.

Players are able to continue to train individually but, at this stage, cannot return to their clubs until at least the end of April given they're required a month's notice before the season will recommence. 

It has seen a number of clubs allow players to return to their home states or, in this instance, their home countries throughout the suspension period.

Melbourne's Irish AFLW duo Niamh McEvoy and Sinead Goldrick returned last week, missing the club's semi-final victory over Greater Western Sydney, as did Carlton's Irish recruit Joanne Doonan.