Leo Connolly (Australian footballer)

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Leo Connolly

| image = Leo Connolly 16.04.21.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Connolly with Sandringham in April 2021

| fullname = Leo Connolly

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|08|07|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| originalteam = Gippsland Power (NAB League)

| draftpick = No. 64, 2019 national draft

| debutdate = 25 June 2021

| debutteam = {{AFL StK}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Ric}}

| debutstadium = Melbourne Cricket Ground

| height = 181 cm

| weight = 78 kg

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = {{AFL StK}}

| guernsey = 37

| years1 = 2020–2023

| club1 = {{AFL StK}}

| games_goals1 = 7 (1)

| statsend = round 23, 2021

| careerhighlights =

}}

Leo Connolly (born 7 August 2001) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by St Kilda with the 64th pick in the 2019 AFL draft, and debuted for St Kilda as a medical substitute against Richmond during the 2021 AFL season.{{cite web|title=Saints snare Victorian trio in 2019 Draft|url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/308157/saints-snare-victorian-trio-in-2019-draft|work=St Kilda Football Club Media|date=29 November 2019|accessdate=26 June 2021}}{{cite web|title=What on earth was that? Saints stun two-goal Tigers to keep finals hopes alive|url=https://www.afl.com.au/matches/3107#match-report|work=AFL.com.au|accessdate=26 June 2021}}

Early football

Originally hailing from the west Gippsland town of Trafalgar, Connolly began playing with the Moe Football Club in 2016, before joining the Gippsland Power in the NAB League, where he became known for his dashing run off half-back and good kicking. He was ultimately selected by the St Kilda Football Club with pick no. 64 in the 2019 AFL draft, their second and final pick.{{cite web|title=Five Gippy junior stars join the big league|url=https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-6208-0-0-0&sID=203216&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=67103072|work=Gippsland League|accessdate=26 June 2021}}{{cite web|title=Leo Connolly|url=https://www.saints.com.au/players/2268/leo-connolly#playerbio|work=St Kilda Football Club Media|date=29 November 2019|accessdate=26 June 2021}}

AFL career

Connolly was not able to make his debut in 2020, and in a Covid-interrupted season was largely relegated to playing scratch matches with the cancellation of the VFL following the outbreak of the pandemic. This made it difficult for Connolly to break into the senior side, who went on to make the Semi Final that year.

In 2021, minutes before St Kilda's round 15 clash with {{AFL Ric}} at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Connolly replaced Nick Coffield as medical substitute, following Coffield's late inclusion in the playing 22 for Jack Billings. Connolly ultimately replaced Coffield on-field and gained 11 disposals in his first quarter of football. Following an impressive debut, Connolly retained his place in the team for seven consecutive matches before a concussion sustained in Round 21 saw him miss the final two games of the year. Connolly averaged 12 disposals, three marks, eight kicks per game in 2021, with his best game coming in Round 20 against Carlton where he had 18 disposals, 13 kicks and three marks. Connolly was delisted at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to the end of the 2021 season{{Cite web|title=AFL Tables - Leo Connolly - Stats - Statistics|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/L/Leo_Connolly.html|access-date=2021-09-11|website=afltables.com}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021

|{{AFL Stk}}

| 37 || 7 || 1 || 1 || 56 || 27 || 83|| 22|| 4 || 0.14 || 0.14 || 8.00 || 3.86 || 11.86 || 3.14 || 0.57

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 7

! 1

! 56

! 27

! 83

! 22