Connor Downie

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Connor Downie

| image =

| image_size = 200px

| caption =

| fullname = Connor Downie

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|05|31|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam =

| draftpick = No. 35, 2020 national draft

| debutdate = Round 1, 2021

| debutteam = {{AFL Haw}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Ess}}

| debutstadium = Marvel Stadium

| height = 185 cm

| weight = 82 kg

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| guernsey =

| years1 = 2021–2022

| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}

| games_goals1 = 2 (0)

| statsend = the 2022 season

| careerhighlights =

}}

Connor Downie (born 31 May 2002) was a professional Australian rules footballer who most recently played with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

AFL career

Downie's introduction to the sport was through the Auskick program.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-24/afl-gold-coast-suns-alex-davies-grandfather/101179022 Alex Davies's magical moment is a shining light for Asian-Australian representation in the AFL] by Tom Maddocks 24 June 2022

Downie is a product of Hawthorn's Next Generation Academy, because of his Chinese heritage.{{Cite web |title=AFL draft hopeful Connor Downie wants to use his heritage to help grow football in China |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/meet-the-draft-hopeful-who-hopes-to-be-an-ambassador-for-footy-in-china-20201202-p56jy0.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=amp.theage.com.au}} He was one of the youngest named in a stacked Vic Metro U18s side for 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/players/2545/connor-downie|title = Connor Downie | AFL}}

In the 2020 AFL draft {{AFL Haw}} through the club's Next Generation Academy, had the opportunity to match the {{AFL NM}} bid and thus secured him with pick 35.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/842229/downie-is-officially-a-hawk|title=Downie is officially a Hawk|date=9 December 2020 }}

Downie debuted for Hawthorn as part of the trio that debuted in the opening round of the 2021 AFL season against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/882825/round-1-team-fans-set-for-a-glimpse-of-the-future|title=ROUND 1 TEAM: Fans set for a glimpse of the future|date=19 March 2021|access-date=20 March 2021|publisher=Hawthorn FC}} Downie was designated as the medical sub for the game but he wasn't needed and didn't spend any time on the ground. The match will always be counted as his first AFL appearance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-medical-sub-rule-first-game-but-didnt-play-connor-downie-hawthorn-hawks-jonathan-brown-reaction-on-the-couch/news-story/9676f3a129af76f15de547913aa33cf6|title='It shouldn't happen': Browny lashes out at fake debut rule that could 'leave a hole'|date=22 March 2021}} He came into the team as a late replacement for the round 22 clash against the {{AFL WB}} in Launceston. He helped his team defeat the 2021 premiership contenders.

On September 2, 2022, the Hawthorn Football Club announced that Downie would not continue with the club in the 2023 season. {{Cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1211803?fbclid=IwAR2NvBYHtmE-CxrDbSPTjD2K_ZpVQevHtgPH5Zzp-pgEmq63v1g7GngXZO8|title='Hawks farewell four as list changes begin'|date=2 September 2022}}

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2022 season.{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Connor_Downie.html|title=Connor Downie Stats|work=AFL Tables|accessdate=20 March 2021}}

| 2021 || {{AFL Haw}} || 41

| 2 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 6 || 12 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.0 || 3.0 || 6.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0

| 2022 || {{AFL Haw}} || 41

| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 0

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 6 !! 6 !! 12 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0.0 !! 3.0 !! 3.0 !! 6.0 !! 1.0 !! 0.0 !! 0