Matthew Connell

Biography

AFC Debut Number: 65               AFC Debut Game:  Round 1 v North Melbourne, 1995

AFC Career Guernsey Number: 14

Matt Connell, drafted by West Coast from WAFL club Subiaco, played three AFL games with the Eagles in 1993 but none in its premiership-winning 1994 season. He had caught the eye, however, of Fitzroy coach Robert Shaw and when Shaw took over at the Crows he pursued the wingman. Connell found immediate personal success. He was Club Champion in his first year, was picked in WA’s State-of-Origin side and then played in both of Adelaide’s premierships. He struggled to win a regular spot in his last couple of seasons, playing 23 games over two years, before returning to Subiaco.

Later, while working as a teacher in the UK, Connell coached the British Bulldogs in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup.