Chris Connolly
Encyclopedia
Chris Connolly is the current (as of 2011) Melbourne Football Club
football manager as well as assistant coach.
, he played 84 games and kicked 38 goals as a mid-fielder. He played from 1982–1987 and 1989, in a career that was cut short by knee
injuries
.
. He then became the head coach of the under 18 Eastern Ranges
team in 1992. 1995 saw Connolly coach the Victoria Metro team in the National Under 18 Championships.
1996 saw Connolly join the Hawthorn Football Club
as their reserves coach. In 2000 he was elevated to the No 1 assistant coach for the league team. In 2001 he coached one game for the Hawthorn Football Club
(in Round 17 against Carlton) in the absence of the regular head coach, Peter Schwab
, who suffered from an irregular heartbeat. Hawthorn won the game, with Ben Dixon kicking the winning goal after the siren
.
following their dismal wooden spoon
season of 2001 . in his first year they struggled a bit and finished 13th. However he took the club to its first ever finals series in 2003, but was beaten comprehensively by Essendon
at its home ground of Subiaco Oval
in the First Elimination Final .
In the years since Connolly has been much maligned for not building on that initial finals appearance, with the Dockers finishing 9th in 2004 (missing the finals), and finishing 10th in 2005. In 2005, despite a late-season surge following a 5-win, 9-loss start when Connolly was under immense pressure from fans, they again missed the finals.
The Dockers' failure to live up to their perceived potential under the guidance of Connolly led to some off-field changes prior to the 2006 season, with two high-profile assistant coaches from Essendon
in Mark Harvey
and Robert Shaw
joining the Dockers coaching staff. On-field, however, Connolly made only three changes to the playing list, trusting the young list that has been developed over the past four seasons. Despite an indifferent start to the season and with immense media scrutiny on Connolly's coaching, Fremantle again stormed home, winning a club record 9 games in a row and finished 3rd at the end of the home and away season. The finals series saw Fremantle lose to Adelaide away, before Connolly led them to the club's first ever win in finals game, against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval. The season ended the following week, with a loss to Sydney at Telstra Stadium
in the preliminary final.
In Round 5, 2006, Connolly was involved in the 2006 AFL siren controversy where he ran onto the ground believing play had finished and was involved in a heated discussion with Lenny Hayes
. In 2007, in the final year of his contract, Connolly's future at Fremantle was constantly under scrutiny, as despite starting the season as one of the premiership favourites, the team performed poorly. Fremantle president Rick Hart
publicly stated that making the finals would be a major factor in Connolly retaining the position.
On 18 July 2007, three days after Fremantle lost by four points to the Kangaroos
at Subiaco Oval, Connolly announced that he would resign immediately. Connolly was given the chance to coach for two more games but declined. Assistant coach Mark Harvey
coached Fremantle for the remainder of the 2007 season in a caretaker role and was eventually employed full time.
In 2007 Connolly was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club
, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey
. As of 2011 he is the Melbourne Football Club
football manager and an assistant coach.
in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
, Victoria. He taught classes in Physical Education (PE), health studies and specialist sporting activity.
football manager as well as assistant coach.
, he played 84 games and kicked 38 goals as a mid-fielder. He played from 1982–1987 and 1989, in a career that was cut short by knee
injuries
.
. He then became the head coach of the under 18 Eastern Ranges
team in 1992. 1995 saw Connolly coach the Victoria Metro team in the National Under 18 Championships.
1996 saw Connolly join the Hawthorn Football Club
as their reserves coach. In 2000 he was elevated to the No 1 assistant coach for the league team. In 2001 he coached one game for the Hawthorn Football Club
(in Round 17 against Carlton) in the absence of the regular head coach, Peter Schwab
, who suffered from an irregular heartbeat. Hawthorn won the game, with Ben Dixon kicking the winning goal after the siren
.
following their dismal wooden spoon
season of 2001 . in his first year they struggled a bit and finished 13th. However he took the club to its first ever finals series in 2003, but was beaten comprehensively by Essendon
at its home ground of Subiaco Oval
in the First Elimination Final .
In the years since Connolly has been much maligned for not building on that initial finals appearance, with the Dockers finishing 9th in 2004 (missing the finals), and finishing 10th in 2005. In 2005, despite a late-season surge following a 5-win, 9-loss start when Connolly was under immense pressure from fans, they again missed the finals.
The Dockers' failure to live up to their perceived potential under the guidance of Connolly led to some off-field changes prior to the 2006 season, with two high-profile assistant coaches from Essendon
in Mark Harvey
and Robert Shaw
joining the Dockers coaching staff. On-field, however, Connolly made only three changes to the playing list, trusting the young list that has been developed over the past four seasons. Despite an indifferent start to the season and with immense media scrutiny on Connolly's coaching, Fremantle again stormed home, winning a club record 9 games in a row and finished 3rd at the end of the home and away season. The finals series saw Fremantle lose to Adelaide away, before Connolly led them to the club's first ever win in finals game, against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval. The season ended the following week, with a loss to Sydney at Telstra Stadium
in the preliminary final.
In Round 5, 2006, Connolly was involved in the 2006 AFL siren controversy where he ran onto the ground believing play had finished and was involved in a heated discussion with Lenny Hayes
. In 2007, in the final year of his contract, Connolly's future at Fremantle was constantly under scrutiny, as despite starting the season as one of the premiership favourites, the team performed poorly. Fremantle president Rick Hart
publicly stated that making the finals would be a major factor in Connolly retaining the position.
On 18 July 2007, three days after Fremantle lost by four points to the Kangaroos
at Subiaco Oval, Connolly announced that he would resign immediately. Connolly was given the chance to coach for two more games but declined. Assistant coach Mark Harvey
coached Fremantle for the remainder of the 2007 season in a caretaker role and was eventually employed full time.
In 2007 Connolly was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club
, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey
. As of 2011 he is the Melbourne Football Club
football manager and an assistant coach.
in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
, Victoria. He taught classes in Physical Education (PE), health studies and specialist sporting activity.
football manager as well as assistant coach.
, he played 84 games and kicked 38 goals as a mid-fielder. He played from 1982–1987 and 1989, in a career that was cut short by knee
injuries
.
. He then became the head coach of the under 18 Eastern Ranges
team in 1992. 1995 saw Connolly coach the Victoria Metro team in the National Under 18 Championships.
1996 saw Connolly join the Hawthorn Football Club
as their reserves coach. In 2000 he was elevated to the No 1 assistant coach for the league team. In 2001 he coached one game for the Hawthorn Football Club
(in Round 17 against Carlton) in the absence of the regular head coach, Peter Schwab
, who suffered from an irregular heartbeat. Hawthorn won the game, with Ben Dixon kicking the winning goal after the siren
.
following their dismal wooden spoon
season of 2001 . in his first year they struggled a bit and finished 13th. However he took the club to its first ever finals series in 2003, but was beaten comprehensively by Essendon
at its home ground of Subiaco Oval
in the First Elimination Final .
In the years since Connolly has been much maligned for not building on that initial finals appearance, with the Dockers finishing 9th in 2004 (missing the finals), and finishing 10th in 2005. In 2005, despite a late-season surge following a 5-win, 9-loss start when Connolly was under immense pressure from fans, they again missed the finals.
The Dockers' failure to live up to their perceived potential under the guidance of Connolly led to some off-field changes prior to the 2006 season, with two high-profile assistant coaches from Essendon
in Mark Harvey
and Robert Shaw
joining the Dockers coaching staff. On-field, however, Connolly made only three changes to the playing list, trusting the young list that has been developed over the past four seasons. Despite an indifferent start to the season and with immense media scrutiny on Connolly's coaching, Fremantle again stormed home, winning a club record 9 games in a row and finished 3rd at the end of the home and away season. The finals series saw Fremantle lose to Adelaide away, before Connolly led them to the club's first ever win in finals game, against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval. The season ended the following week, with a loss to Sydney at Telstra Stadium
in the preliminary final.
In Round 5, 2006, Connolly was involved in the 2006 AFL siren controversy where he ran onto the ground believing play had finished and was involved in a heated discussion with Lenny Hayes
. In 2007, in the final year of his contract, Connolly's future at Fremantle was constantly under scrutiny, as despite starting the season as one of the premiership favourites, the team performed poorly. Fremantle president Rick Hart
publicly stated that making the finals would be a major factor in Connolly retaining the position.
On 18 July 2007, three days after Fremantle lost by four points to the Kangaroos
at Subiaco Oval, Connolly announced that he would resign immediately. Connolly was given the chance to coach for two more games but declined. Assistant coach Mark Harvey
coached Fremantle for the remainder of the 2007 season in a caretaker role and was eventually employed full time.
In 2007 Connolly was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club
, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey
. As of 2011 he is the Melbourne Football Club
football manager and an assistant coach.
in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
, Victoria. He taught classes in Physical Education (PE), health studies and specialist sporting activity.
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
football manager as well as assistant coach.
Playing career
During a playing career with the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, he played 84 games and kicked 38 goals as a mid-fielder. He played from 1982–1987 and 1989, in a career that was cut short by knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injuries
Australian rules football injuries
Australian rules football is a sport known for its high level of physical body contact compared to other sports such as soccer and basketball. High impact collisions can occur from any direction, although deliberate collisions from front-on...
.
Coaching career
In 1991 Connolly was appointed as an assistant coach at Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
. He then became the head coach of the under 18 Eastern Ranges
Eastern Ranges
The Eastern Ranges are an Australian rules football team in the TAC Cup.The club is a founding member of the TAC Cup competition and has produced several players for the Australian Football League including Nick Malceski, David Wirrpanda, Jess Sinclair, Damian Cupido, Lindsay Gilbee, Travis Cloke,...
team in 1992. 1995 saw Connolly coach the Victoria Metro team in the National Under 18 Championships.
1996 saw Connolly join the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
as their reserves coach. In 2000 he was elevated to the No 1 assistant coach for the league team. In 2001 he coached one game for the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
(in Round 17 against Carlton) in the absence of the regular head coach, Peter Schwab
Peter Schwab
Peter Schwab is a former Australian rules footballer and coach in the VFL/AFL.-Playing career:Recruited from Bennettswood, he played with Hawthorn from 1980-1991, going on to play 171 games and boot 38 goals...
, who suffered from an irregular heartbeat. Hawthorn won the game, with Ben Dixon kicking the winning goal after the siren
After the siren kicks in Australian rules football
In Australian rules football, if a player takes a mark or is awarded a free kick before or as the siren sounds, the player is allowed to take the kick...
.
Fremantle Football Club
Connolly took over the coaching reins for the 2002 season at the Fremantle Football ClubFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
following their dismal wooden spoon
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
season of 2001 . in his first year they struggled a bit and finished 13th. However he took the club to its first ever finals series in 2003, but was beaten comprehensively by Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at its home ground of Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
in the First Elimination Final .
In the years since Connolly has been much maligned for not building on that initial finals appearance, with the Dockers finishing 9th in 2004 (missing the finals), and finishing 10th in 2005. In 2005, despite a late-season surge following a 5-win, 9-loss start when Connolly was under immense pressure from fans, they again missed the finals.
The Dockers' failure to live up to their perceived potential under the guidance of Connolly led to some off-field changes prior to the 2006 season, with two high-profile assistant coaches from Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
and Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (footballer)
Robert Shaw is a former Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club and coach in the VFL/AFL with the Fitzroy and Adelaide Football Clubs...
joining the Dockers coaching staff. On-field, however, Connolly made only three changes to the playing list, trusting the young list that has been developed over the past four seasons. Despite an indifferent start to the season and with immense media scrutiny on Connolly's coaching, Fremantle again stormed home, winning a club record 9 games in a row and finished 3rd at the end of the home and away season. The finals series saw Fremantle lose to Adelaide away, before Connolly led them to the club's first ever win in finals game, against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval. The season ended the following week, with a loss to Sydney at Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
in the preliminary final.
In Round 5, 2006, Connolly was involved in the 2006 AFL siren controversy where he ran onto the ground believing play had finished and was involved in a heated discussion with Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.Hayes is a former captain of St Kilda and continues to be an onfield leader in the Saints' midfield....
. In 2007, in the final year of his contract, Connolly's future at Fremantle was constantly under scrutiny, as despite starting the season as one of the premiership favourites, the team performed poorly. Fremantle president Rick Hart
Rick Hart
Rick Hart is a Western Australian businessman and former president of the Fremantle Football Club.Hart commenced retail trading in electrical appliances in 1975 and in 1979 he first used his name as part of the company's name...
publicly stated that making the finals would be a major factor in Connolly retaining the position.
On 18 July 2007, three days after Fremantle lost by four points to the Kangaroos
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
at Subiaco Oval, Connolly announced that he would resign immediately. Connolly was given the chance to coach for two more games but declined. Assistant coach Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
coached Fremantle for the remainder of the 2007 season in a caretaker role and was eventually employed full time.
In 2007 Connolly was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon, a former coach of the Melbourne Football Club, as well as a former assistant coach at Port Adelaide.-Coaching career:...
. As of 2011 he is the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
football manager and an assistant coach.
Teaching career
Connolly taught at Northcote Technical School, and at Pembroke Secondary CollegePembroke Secondary College
Yarra Hills Secondary College is a secondary school in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The school has three campuses: junior campuses in Cambridge Road, Mooroolbark, and in Mount Evelyn, serve students in years 7-10, and a senior campus in Reay Road in Mooroolbark serves year 11...
in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria. He taught classes in Physical Education (PE), health studies and specialist sporting activity.
External links
Chris Connolly (born 25 March 1963) is the current (as of 2011) Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
football manager as well as assistant coach.
Playing career
During a playing career with the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, he played 84 games and kicked 38 goals as a mid-fielder. He played from 1982–1987 and 1989, in a career that was cut short by knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injuries
Australian rules football injuries
Australian rules football is a sport known for its high level of physical body contact compared to other sports such as soccer and basketball. High impact collisions can occur from any direction, although deliberate collisions from front-on...
.
Coaching career
In 1991 Connolly was appointed as an assistant coach at Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
. He then became the head coach of the under 18 Eastern Ranges
Eastern Ranges
The Eastern Ranges are an Australian rules football team in the TAC Cup.The club is a founding member of the TAC Cup competition and has produced several players for the Australian Football League including Nick Malceski, David Wirrpanda, Jess Sinclair, Damian Cupido, Lindsay Gilbee, Travis Cloke,...
team in 1992. 1995 saw Connolly coach the Victoria Metro team in the National Under 18 Championships.
1996 saw Connolly join the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
as their reserves coach. In 2000 he was elevated to the No 1 assistant coach for the league team. In 2001 he coached one game for the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
(in Round 17 against Carlton) in the absence of the regular head coach, Peter Schwab
Peter Schwab
Peter Schwab is a former Australian rules footballer and coach in the VFL/AFL.-Playing career:Recruited from Bennettswood, he played with Hawthorn from 1980-1991, going on to play 171 games and boot 38 goals...
, who suffered from an irregular heartbeat. Hawthorn won the game, with Ben Dixon kicking the winning goal after the siren
After the siren kicks in Australian rules football
In Australian rules football, if a player takes a mark or is awarded a free kick before or as the siren sounds, the player is allowed to take the kick...
.
Fremantle Football Club
Connolly took over the coaching reins for the 2002 season at the Fremantle Football ClubFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
following their dismal wooden spoon
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
season of 2001 . in his first year they struggled a bit and finished 13th. However he took the club to its first ever finals series in 2003, but was beaten comprehensively by Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at its home ground of Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
in the First Elimination Final .
In the years since Connolly has been much maligned for not building on that initial finals appearance, with the Dockers finishing 9th in 2004 (missing the finals), and finishing 10th in 2005. In 2005, despite a late-season surge following a 5-win, 9-loss start when Connolly was under immense pressure from fans, they again missed the finals.
The Dockers' failure to live up to their perceived potential under the guidance of Connolly led to some off-field changes prior to the 2006 season, with two high-profile assistant coaches from Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
and Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (footballer)
Robert Shaw is a former Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club and coach in the VFL/AFL with the Fitzroy and Adelaide Football Clubs...
joining the Dockers coaching staff. On-field, however, Connolly made only three changes to the playing list, trusting the young list that has been developed over the past four seasons. Despite an indifferent start to the season and with immense media scrutiny on Connolly's coaching, Fremantle again stormed home, winning a club record 9 games in a row and finished 3rd at the end of the home and away season. The finals series saw Fremantle lose to Adelaide away, before Connolly led them to the club's first ever win in finals game, against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval. The season ended the following week, with a loss to Sydney at Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
in the preliminary final.
In Round 5, 2006, Connolly was involved in the 2006 AFL siren controversy where he ran onto the ground believing play had finished and was involved in a heated discussion with Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.Hayes is a former captain of St Kilda and continues to be an onfield leader in the Saints' midfield....
. In 2007, in the final year of his contract, Connolly's future at Fremantle was constantly under scrutiny, as despite starting the season as one of the premiership favourites, the team performed poorly. Fremantle president Rick Hart
Rick Hart
Rick Hart is a Western Australian businessman and former president of the Fremantle Football Club.Hart commenced retail trading in electrical appliances in 1975 and in 1979 he first used his name as part of the company's name...
publicly stated that making the finals would be a major factor in Connolly retaining the position.
On 18 July 2007, three days after Fremantle lost by four points to the Kangaroos
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
at Subiaco Oval, Connolly announced that he would resign immediately. Connolly was given the chance to coach for two more games but declined. Assistant coach Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
coached Fremantle for the remainder of the 2007 season in a caretaker role and was eventually employed full time.
In 2007 Connolly was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon, a former coach of the Melbourne Football Club, as well as a former assistant coach at Port Adelaide.-Coaching career:...
. As of 2011 he is the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
football manager and an assistant coach.
Teaching career
Connolly taught at Northcote Technical School, and at Pembroke Secondary CollegePembroke Secondary College
Yarra Hills Secondary College is a secondary school in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The school has three campuses: junior campuses in Cambridge Road, Mooroolbark, and in Mount Evelyn, serve students in years 7-10, and a senior campus in Reay Road in Mooroolbark serves year 11...
in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria. He taught classes in Physical Education (PE), health studies and specialist sporting activity.
External links
Chris Connolly (born 25 March 1963) is the current (as of 2011) Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
football manager as well as assistant coach.
Playing career
During a playing career with the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, he played 84 games and kicked 38 goals as a mid-fielder. He played from 1982–1987 and 1989, in a career that was cut short by knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injuries
Australian rules football injuries
Australian rules football is a sport known for its high level of physical body contact compared to other sports such as soccer and basketball. High impact collisions can occur from any direction, although deliberate collisions from front-on...
.
Coaching career
In 1991 Connolly was appointed as an assistant coach at Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
. He then became the head coach of the under 18 Eastern Ranges
Eastern Ranges
The Eastern Ranges are an Australian rules football team in the TAC Cup.The club is a founding member of the TAC Cup competition and has produced several players for the Australian Football League including Nick Malceski, David Wirrpanda, Jess Sinclair, Damian Cupido, Lindsay Gilbee, Travis Cloke,...
team in 1992. 1995 saw Connolly coach the Victoria Metro team in the National Under 18 Championships.
1996 saw Connolly join the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
as their reserves coach. In 2000 he was elevated to the No 1 assistant coach for the league team. In 2001 he coached one game for the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
(in Round 17 against Carlton) in the absence of the regular head coach, Peter Schwab
Peter Schwab
Peter Schwab is a former Australian rules footballer and coach in the VFL/AFL.-Playing career:Recruited from Bennettswood, he played with Hawthorn from 1980-1991, going on to play 171 games and boot 38 goals...
, who suffered from an irregular heartbeat. Hawthorn won the game, with Ben Dixon kicking the winning goal after the siren
After the siren kicks in Australian rules football
In Australian rules football, if a player takes a mark or is awarded a free kick before or as the siren sounds, the player is allowed to take the kick...
.
Fremantle Football Club
Connolly took over the coaching reins for the 2002 season at the Fremantle Football ClubFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
following their dismal wooden spoon
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
season of 2001 . in his first year they struggled a bit and finished 13th. However he took the club to its first ever finals series in 2003, but was beaten comprehensively by Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at its home ground of Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
in the First Elimination Final .
In the years since Connolly has been much maligned for not building on that initial finals appearance, with the Dockers finishing 9th in 2004 (missing the finals), and finishing 10th in 2005. In 2005, despite a late-season surge following a 5-win, 9-loss start when Connolly was under immense pressure from fans, they again missed the finals.
The Dockers' failure to live up to their perceived potential under the guidance of Connolly led to some off-field changes prior to the 2006 season, with two high-profile assistant coaches from Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
and Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (footballer)
Robert Shaw is a former Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club and coach in the VFL/AFL with the Fitzroy and Adelaide Football Clubs...
joining the Dockers coaching staff. On-field, however, Connolly made only three changes to the playing list, trusting the young list that has been developed over the past four seasons. Despite an indifferent start to the season and with immense media scrutiny on Connolly's coaching, Fremantle again stormed home, winning a club record 9 games in a row and finished 3rd at the end of the home and away season. The finals series saw Fremantle lose to Adelaide away, before Connolly led them to the club's first ever win in finals game, against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval. The season ended the following week, with a loss to Sydney at Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
in the preliminary final.
In Round 5, 2006, Connolly was involved in the 2006 AFL siren controversy where he ran onto the ground believing play had finished and was involved in a heated discussion with Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.Hayes is a former captain of St Kilda and continues to be an onfield leader in the Saints' midfield....
. In 2007, in the final year of his contract, Connolly's future at Fremantle was constantly under scrutiny, as despite starting the season as one of the premiership favourites, the team performed poorly. Fremantle president Rick Hart
Rick Hart
Rick Hart is a Western Australian businessman and former president of the Fremantle Football Club.Hart commenced retail trading in electrical appliances in 1975 and in 1979 he first used his name as part of the company's name...
publicly stated that making the finals would be a major factor in Connolly retaining the position.
On 18 July 2007, three days after Fremantle lost by four points to the Kangaroos
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
at Subiaco Oval, Connolly announced that he would resign immediately. Connolly was given the chance to coach for two more games but declined. Assistant coach Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
coached Fremantle for the remainder of the 2007 season in a caretaker role and was eventually employed full time.
In 2007 Connolly was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon, a former coach of the Melbourne Football Club, as well as a former assistant coach at Port Adelaide.-Coaching career:...
. As of 2011 he is the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
football manager and an assistant coach.
Teaching career
Connolly taught at Northcote Technical School, and at Pembroke Secondary CollegePembroke Secondary College
Yarra Hills Secondary College is a secondary school in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The school has three campuses: junior campuses in Cambridge Road, Mooroolbark, and in Mount Evelyn, serve students in years 7-10, and a senior campus in Reay Road in Mooroolbark serves year 11...
in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria. He taught classes in Physical Education (PE), health studies and specialist sporting activity.