Daniel Connors

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]

Daniel Connors
Personal information
Full name Daniel Connors
Date of birth (1988-09-22) 22 September 1988
Place of birth Victoria
Original team(s) Echuca / Bendigo Pioneers
Draft 58th overall, 2006
Richmond
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Midfield / Half Forward Flank / Half Back Flank
Club information
Current club Port Melbourne
Number 18
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2007–2012 Richmond 29 (11)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2012.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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

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

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
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. "AFL National Draft". Fox Sports. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  4. Australian Associated Press (2 October 2008). "Tiger 10 sign new deals". Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  5. Quayle, Emma (9 August 2009). "Two tribes in 2012". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  6. AFL umpire Stuart Wenn axed after sledging Daniel Connors | Herald Sun
  7. Connors seals Tigers' AFL win over GWS
  8. "Tigers sack Connors, suspend Martin". The Age. Melbourne.
  9. "Disgraced former Tiger in pub attack". Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  10. Brent Diamond (18 April 2014). "Former Tiger bad boy keen on fresh start". The Age. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  11. "Sunday night wrap: Round 20". Fox Sports Pulse. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  12. "Fabulous four - Pioneers quartet selected in AFL national draft". Bendigo Advertiser. 26 November 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  13. 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.
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