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Daniel Connors
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Daniel Connors (born 22 September 1988) is an Australian rules footballer who was selected at number 58 overall in the 2006 AFL national draft by the Richmond Football Club. Originally from the Echuca Football Club, he played for Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup and was named in the 2006 TAC Cup Team of the Year and the All-Australian team after representing Victoria Country at the National Under 18 Championships.[1] Daniel Connors was considered a "steal" from the 2006 National Draft as many touted him as a possible top 20 pick[2] but slipped down to the 58th selection where Richmond selected him with their third selection.[3]
Key Information
After playing 18 games in his first two-season, Connors' contract was extended in 2008[4] and with a change of coach at the end of the 2009 season, he was seen as a potential key to Richmond's future success.[5]
Controversies
[edit]Connors was suspended by Richmond for eight matches following a drunken rampage outside a Sydney hotel in 2010, hours after the Tigers' Round 3 loss against the Sydney Swans the night before. He, along with senior players Ben Cousins, Dean Polo and Luke McGuane were banned over the drunken rampage. Late that season, Connors earned the ire of umpire Stuart Wenn when the umpire told him that he was "battling himself out of his league".[6]
He had further behavioural issues relating to alcohol during the 2011/12 AFL off-season, earning a further internal suspension from the club. His suspensions and injuries saw him fail to play a senior game between Round 3, 2011 and Round 12, 2012, but he kicked two late goals to help Richmond narrowly defeat Greater Western Sydney in his return match.[7]
Connors was sacked by the Tigers on 4 July 2012 for failing to attend training. Craig Cameron, Richmond's General Manager of Football, stated that Connors had "failed to meet club expectations on a number of occasions" and that "this latest incident can't be considered in isolation."[8]
On 31 August 2016 Daniel Connors pleaded guilty in Echuca Magistrates Court to reckless conduct endangering serious injury and failing to leave a licensed premises. Daniel Connors left a man with a severed tendon in his hand due to a broken beer glass after violently attacking him at a hotel. Connors then tried punching the victim twice, despite the man telling him he did not want to fight. Connors then threatened to smash the victim in two, before threatening security and resisting their attempts to remove him from the venue.[9]
Post-AFL career
[edit]Connors played for Aberfeldie in the Essendon District Football League in 2013, then signed to play with Port Melbourne in the Victorian Football League in 2014.[10] He tied with Box Hill's Sam Grimley for the Frosty Miller Medal as the leading goalkicker in the 2014 VFL home-and-away season, kicking 38 goals for the year.[11]
His younger brother Eljay was drafted by St Kilda in 2007,[12] but did not play a league game before he was delisted at the end of the 2009 season.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Sheehan, Kevin (2 July 2006). "The cream of the crop". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ Burgan, Matt (23 November 2006). "Phantom Draft VII: 2006 Phantom AFL Draft". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ "AFL National Draft". Fox Sports. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ Australian Associated Press (2 October 2008). "Tiger 10 sign new deals". Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ Quayle, Emma (9 August 2009). "Two tribes in 2012". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ AFL umpire Stuart Wenn axed after sledging Daniel Connors | Herald Sun
- ^ Connors seals Tigers' AFL win over GWS
- ^ "Tigers sack Connors, suspend Martin". The Age. Melbourne.
- ^ "Disgraced former Tiger in pub attack". Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ Brent Diamond (18 April 2014). "Former Tiger bad boy keen on fresh start". The Age. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Sunday night wrap: Round 20". Fox Sports Pulse. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "Fabulous four - Pioneers quartet selected in AFL national draft". Bendigo Advertiser. 26 November 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ Witham, Jennifer (22 October 2009). "St Kilda delists Begley, Connors, three rookies". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
External links
[edit]- Daniel Connors's playing statistics from AFL Tables
Daniel Connors
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and junior career
Personal background
Daniel Connors was born on 22 September 1988 in Echuca, Victoria, Australia.[10][11] He grew up in the regional town of Echuca, where his family has longstanding ties to the community.[11] Connors is the son of Mark and Meryl Connors, and he has three siblings: an older sister named Sara, a younger brother Eljay, and a younger sister Amy.[11] His brother Eljay Connors was selected by St Kilda with pick 70 in the 2007 AFL National Draft but was delisted at the end of the 2009 season without making a senior appearance for the club.[12][13] From a young age, Connors was exposed to Australian rules football through local community influences in Echuca, fostering his early interest in the sport. He later transitioned to structured junior football with clubs like the Echuca Football Club.[11] At the time of his entry into the AFL draft process, Connors measured 186 cm in height and weighed 84 kg, attributes that highlighted his athletic build as a midfielder.[10][14]Junior football achievements
Connors began his junior football career with the Echuca Football Club in local leagues, where he developed his skills as a versatile midfielder and forward.[15] He later progressed to the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup, Victoria's premier under-18 competition, representing the team during the 2006 season.[16] In 2006, Connors had a standout performance with the Bendigo Pioneers, averaging strong disposals and goal contributions that highlighted his speed, tackling ability, and forward pressure, drawing attention from AFL scouts.[17] His efforts earned him selection in the Victorian Country representative team for the National Under-18 Championships, where he contributed to a competitive campaign.[16] For his excellence in the TAC Cup, Connors was named in the 2006 TAC Cup Team of the Year at center.[18] He capped the year by being selected in the 2006 AFL Under-18 All-Australian team, recognizing his national-level potential.[3]AFL career
Draft selection and debut
Connors was selected by the Richmond Football Club in the third round of the 2006 AFL National Draft, with pick 58 overall.[19] As part of Richmond's strategy to build midfield depth through late-round selections of versatile prospects, the club targeted Connors for his ability to play across multiple positions, including defense, midfield, and the wing, after his standout performances with the Bendigo Pioneers.[20] Following his draft, Connors joined Richmond's senior list ahead of the 2007 season, where he engaged in preseason training and club development programs to build physical conditioning and tactical awareness at the professional level.[14] He made his AFL debut on 28 July 2007 in Round 17 against the Sydney Swans at the Sydney Cricket Ground, lining up as a utility player with a primary role in the midfield.[21][16] In his first season, Connors experienced limited opportunities, appearing in just four games while prioritizing adaptation to the speed, physicality, and strategic complexities of AFL football.[14]Time at Richmond Football Club
Connors played 29 senior games for the Richmond Football Club between 2007 and 2012, scoring 11 goals during that period.[10] Primarily positioned as a versatile utility player capable of contributing in the midfield or forward line, he averaged 17.7 disposals per game across his AFL career.[22] His tenure coincided with Richmond's ongoing rebuilding efforts, initially under coach Terry Wallace from 2005 to 2009, followed by an interim coach in late 2009, before Damien Hardwick assumed the role in 2010 to accelerate the club's development.[23] Early in his career, Connors had limited opportunities, appearing in just four games in 2007 with no goals and four more in 2008 where he kicked five goals, showcasing his forward potential.[10] By 2009, his senior exposure dropped to two games and one goal, as he focused on development in the club's reserves.[22] His most consistent season came in 2010, with 14 appearances and one goal, during which he demonstrated reliability in contested situations under Hardwick's emerging game plan.[10] Connors' playing time became more sporadic in his later years, managing three games in 2011 without scoring and two in 2012 where he booted four goals.[22] Known for his speed off half-back and pressure through tackling, he provided burst energy in transition plays, aligning with Richmond's shift toward a faster, more aggressive style.[24] A highlight was his performance in Round 12 of 2012 against Greater Western Sydney, where he kicked three goals, including two crucial ones in the final quarter, to help secure a 12-point victory in wet conditions.[25] Despite interruptions from suspensions that limited his consistency, Connors contributed to the Tigers' gradual improvement, playing a supporting role in a squad blending youth and experience during the rebuild.[10]| Season | Games Played | Goals Kicked |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 4 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 | 14 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 4 |
| Total | 29 | 11 |