McKenna then caused a sensation when he decided to join despised rival Carlton in 1977.
McKenna, 70, was quick to point out the club he played for before joining Carlton was the Devonport Magpies in 1976 when he moved to Tasmania to accept a teaching appointment.
After a season in Tasmania, the star full-forward returned to Victoria determined to have one last crack at the big time.
He completed the pre-season under new Collingwood coach Tom Hafey and was in supreme physical condition.
Despite performing well in the practice matches, the Magpies' offer to the spearhead was far from adequate and reluctantly forced him to look elsewhere.
"I really don't think Collingwood wanted me," he recalled. "They offered me a pittance to play – it was $300 a game and if I got dropped to the seconds I would get $100 a game.
"I said: 'How about making it $300 a game regardless?' and they said no. I just thought that was unfair."
McKenna fielded offers from several clubs including Fitzroy and South Melbourne before deciding to join the Blues.
Then came his first and only appearance against the Magpies in front of more than 64,000 fans at Waverley Park.
McKenna has a clear recollection of the day which was less than memorable for him and the Blues, who were annihilated by 102 points.
"I got booed by the Collingwood supporters, not all of them of course but you could hear it," he said.
"I didn’t take offence at that. Collingwood supporters were sensational to me throughout my career.
"We kicked only seven goals that day and I kicked three of them."
He finished the season with 36 goals in 11 games, having booted four in his final game against Melbourne in round 18.
McKenna regrets he did not fulfil the second year of his contract with the Blues.
"I loved Carlton and the players – some of the Carlton guys are lifelong friends," he said.
"The first day I walked in there I felt at home. I knew a lot of them and they made me really, really welcome. I did enjoy it.
"But I found it very, very difficult to play against Collingwood after having been there for 11 years. There was too much Collingwood in me."