Conor McKenna can finally breathe fresh air again.

Having finished a mandatory 14-day quarantine period cooped up in a hotel room, the Bombers' dashing half-back said he was relieved to return to the club and rejoin his teammates today.

"It’s the first time I’ve been locked in a room for two weeks, only getting fresh air once a week for 15 minutes. It’s just a new thing to get used to, but thankfully I’m out of it now," McKenna said.

"The body’s feeling pretty good. I went for a run on Saturday and pulled up pretty well. It’s good to see some people now and get that interaction. I’ve been spending a fair bit of time with myself. It’s good to be back."

McKenna, like Essendon's other two Irishmen Cian McBride and Ross McQuillan, headed back to their homeland in March after the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The 24-year-old said he was feeling refreshed and ready to attack his sixth season in the red and black.

"It’s the first time I’ve spent seven or eight weeks at home with the family.

"It was good just working the farm and Dad opened up about a month ago, so I started working with his business again for the last month. It was good to just spend time with family.

"I’m looking forward to it – just getting stuck into the season and seeing how I go."