Connor Blakely Explained

Connor Blakely
Fullname:Connor Blakely
Birth Date:2 March 1996
Originalteam:Swan Districts (WAFL)
Draftpick:No. 34, 2014 National draft,
Height:188 cm
Weight:85 kg
Position:Midfielder
Guernsey:26
Years1:2015–2022
Games Goals1:78 (3)
Years2:2023
Games Goals2:0 (0)
Games Goalstotal:78 (3)
Statsend:2022
Careerhighlights:

2016

2016

2023

Connor Blakely (born 2 March 1996) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club and the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Originally from Bunbury, Western Australia, he was drafted with the 34th selection in the 2014 National Draft from Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He made his league debut in 2013, and then in 2014 played all season in Swan Districts league team. He also represented Western Australia at the 2014 AFL Under 18 Championships, where he was selected to the tournament's All-Australian team.[1] In 2015 he played for Peel Thunder in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Fremantle's reserve team. He was awarded the clubs Best and Fairest award at the seasons end.

He again played for Peel during the 2016 WAFL season and was a part of their inaugural premiership, beating Subiaco by 23 points.[2] He was awarded the Simpson Medal for the best player on ground.[3]

AFL career

Blakely was selected to make his AFL debut for Fremantle in the final round of the 2015 AFL season, when Fremantle sent a weakened team to play Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval. Twelve changes were made to the team, and Blakely was one of four players to make their AFL debuts.[4]

Blakely was awarded a 2016 AFL Rising Star nomination during round 11 against at Domain Stadium, collecting 25 disposals and 7 tackles.[5]

In July 2019, Blakely signed a three-year contract extension with Fremantle, to remain at the club until the end of 2022.[6]

Following the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season Blakely was delisted by Fremantle,[7] but was picked up as a rookie by in the subsequent rookie draft.[8]

Blakely spent the entirety of 2023 playing for Gold Coast's reserve team in the Victorian Football League, and was a part of the clubs inaugural VFL grand final win.[9] After one season with the Gold Coast Suns, Blakely announced his retirement from AFL Football, stating “I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready to let go of football…”.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 10, 2022[10]

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 9 || 12 || 1 || 1 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.0 || 9.0 || 12.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 0|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 15 || 1 || 6 || 129 || 175 || 304 || 40 || 56 || 0.1 || 0.4 || 8.6 || 11.7 || 20.3 || 2.7 || 3.7 || 3|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 17 || 1 || 4 || 210 || 196 || 406 || 88 || 67 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 12.4 || 11.5 || 23.9 || 5.2 || 3.9 || 5|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 13 || 0 || 1 || 172 || 137 || 309 || 92 || 33 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 13.2 || 10.5 || 23.8 || 7.1 || 2.5 || 1|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 14 || 0 || 0 || 156 || 121 || 277 || 72 || 32 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 11.1 || 8.6 || 19.8 || 5.1 || 2.3 || 0|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2020|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 26 || 49 || 75 || 12 || 12 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.2 || 9.8 || 15.0 || 2.4 || 2.4 || 0|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 13 || 1 || 2 || 50 || 66 || 116 || 30 || 11 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 3.8 || 5.1 || 8.9 || 2.3 || 0.8 || 0|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022|style="text-align:center;"|| 19 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 78! 3! 13! 746! 753! 1499! 335! 212! 0.0! 0.2! 9.6! 9.7! 19.2! 4.3! 2.7! 9|}

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 21 days to the draft: Meet Connor Blakely. 6 November 2014. Callum . Twomey.
  2. News: Squad: Peel Thunder v Subiaco. fremantlefc.
  3. News: Peel Thunder makes history with first WAFL premiership after 20 years. The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 September 2016. Nathan. Hondros.
  4. News: Another Docker goes out. Shayne . Hope. 5 September 2015.
  5. News: Blakely rising star nomination. fremantlefc. 6 June 2016.
  6. News: Mitchell. Woodcock. Connor Blakely commits to Fremantle Dockers future. PerthNow. 31 July 2019. 29 September 2019.
  7. News: Fremantle list update. 2 November 2022. fremantlefc. en.
  8. News: Hope. Shayne. Former Fremantle Dockers player Connor Blakely given Gold Coast Suns lifeline on rookie list. 28 September 2023. perthnow.com.au. en.
  9. News: Rhodes. Brendan. Flag Suns as Gold Coast wins epic. 28 September 2023. afl.com.au. en.
  10. http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Connor_Blakely.html Connor Blakely's player profile at AFL Tables