Roy McConnell (footballer)

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Roy McConnell
Personal information
Date of birth 21 August 1927
Date of death 24 July 2003(2003-07-24) (aged 75)
Place of death Queensland
Original team(s) Ascot Imperials
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 76 kg (168 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1949–1956 Essendon 135 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1956.
Career highlights
  • Essendon premiership player 1949, 1950
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Roy McConnell (21 August 1927 – 24 July 2003) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Family[]

He married Patricia May Carter on 29 October 1951.[1]

Football[]

He played for Essendon in the VFL.[2]

[McConnell was] a strong, dashing defender. He was well known as close playing spoiler with good spring and unexpected speed in his long legs. Surprisingly, he had a vision range of not much more than fifty yards, but this never affected his play. He had a remarkable ability for such a big man and was a top full back and centre half back during his career. He was a member of the 1949 and 1950 premiership teams and burst into League prominence by beating Carlton star, Jack Howell, in the 1949 grand final.[3]

Controversial retirement[]

McConnell retired, controversially, at the end of the 1956 season.

Vice-Captain of the senior team, and its regular full-back, McConnell was selected as its 20th man in the last match of the season, against Geelong.[4]

"He withdrew from the team [announcing his immediate retirement on the Friday] claiming that his form warranted a place in the eighteen. 'I have no grudge against Essendon, but I consider that I could have had a better go this season', he said."[5]

The first emergency, John Towner, was appointed 20th man for the match.

Essendon Football Club[]

McConnell served on the Essendon Football Club's Committee (1957-1965), was its secretary (1973-1979), following the retirement of Bill Cookson, and was its first general manager (1980).[6][7]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ Essendon League Star Marries, The Argus, (Monday, 29 October 1951), p3.
  2. ^ Kerville, Ben, "Looks Shy—Acts Tough", The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 22 July 1953), p.2.
  3. ^ Maplestone (1996), p.179.
  4. ^ League Teams for Tomorrow: Essendon v. Geelong, (Friday, 17 August 1956), p.20.
  5. ^ Maplestone (1996), p.178.
  6. ^ Maplestone (1996), p.421.
  7. ^ Barry Capuano replaced McConnell served as general manager from 1981 to 1988 (Maplestone, 1996, p.417).

References[]

  • Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8

External links[]

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