Congratulations to Leigh McConnon on the milestone of 60 years!
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From our Youtube Channel:
From the Blueseum:
Career : 1976 – 1977
Debut: Round 3, 1976 vs Fitzroy, aged 22 years, 312 days
Carlton Player No. 858
Games : 26
Goals : 4
Last Game : Round 15, 1977 vs St Kilda, aged 24 years, 30 days
Guernsey No. 32
Height : 177 cm ( 5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 74.5 kg (11 stone, 10 lbs.)
DOB : June 9, 1953
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in 1974, Carlton’s scouts were impressed by a lightly-framed wingman who starred in North Hobart’s victory in the Southern Tasmanian Football League Grand Final. The 21 year-old speedster was Leigh McConnon, a gifted athlete who had already won a number of professional sprint races.
North Melbourne were also showing interest in McConnon, but it was the Blues who signed him. He arrived at Princes Park in 1975, and began a long and varied football journey. Standing 177 cm and weighing in at 75 kg, he was allocated guernsey number 32, and the freedom to use his speed to advantage. Unfortunately, raw pace proved not to be enough at a time when Richmond, in particular, were developing 183 cm, 85 kg wingmen who were also genuinely quick.
McConnon played 26 games for Carlton and kicked four goals in a two-season stay that lasted until in 1977. In 1978, he bobbed up at Fitzroy, where he racked up another 23 games in seasons 1980-81. Afterwards he played at VFA clubs Williamstown and Sandringham, before successfully turning his hand to coaching at a string of country and suburban clubs including Hadfield and Sunbury in Victoria, and North Hobart, Clarence and Kingston in Tasmania.