Matthew Connell

Matthew Connell (born 3 August 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League for the Adelaide Crows and West Coast Eagles. Educated at Newman College, he has now returned there as a teacher.

Drafted by West Coast from Western Australian Football League (WAFL) club Subiaco with pick 29 of the 1991 AFL draft, Connell played three games for West Coast in 1993 without making an impact.

Transferring to Adelaide in 1995, Connell had a brilliant season, winning the Crows Best and Fairest and a position in the Western Australian State of Origin side. In 1996 Connell suffered a thigh injury early in the season and when he returned he could not recapture his 1995 form.

Connell played in Adelaide's 1997 and 1998 Premierships before retiring at the end of the 2000 AFL season.

He coached the Great Britain Bulldogs Australian rules football team in the 2005 International Cup, held in Melbourne, guiding the team to a 6th place finish.

Playing statistics

99 28 21 1301 499 1800 431 104 0.3 0.2 13.1 5.0 18.2 4.4 1.1

Honors 1995 Adelaide best and fairest 1997 premiership player 1998 premiership player