Roy McConnell (footballer)

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

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

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