Jock Connell was a brilliant ruckman, spectacular high mark and one of the longest kicks in the game.
During his career he received many offers to go play in the VFL from Geelong (2) , Footscray, Richmond and St.Kilda but turned them all down to stay in Tasmania and follow his career as a wool sorter.
It was with Glen Dhu that Jock Connell started playing football in 1925 at the age of 12, captaining the side.
He began his senior career with City in 1929 when he was 16 and played his last game thirty years later. Prior to joining City he played for South Launceston and Patons & Baldwins.
He played the 4 matches for Tasmania when selected in the State team to play at the 1933 Carnival in Sydney. When City was experiencing a lean time he became captain/coach of City in 1934 and 1935. He was vice captain of the "Redlegs" for seven years.
During his career he won the club best and fairest award four times and the NTFA best and fairest Tasman Shield trophy in 1934 and 1939. He was named best player in the North versus South game in 1934.
During the second world war he played with Railway in the Essential Services competition.
Jock finished his playing days with City in 1946 playing three games at the beginning of the season and a final against North Launceston and then coached Lefroy in the Tamar competition.
In 1949 and 1950 he put on the boots again and played for Longford, finally hanging them up after coaching Avoca in the Fingal Valley competition.
He was made a life member of City/South in 1940 and the NTFA.
In his career Jock Connell played 220 senior games for City, 33 for the NTFA and four for Tasmania, a total of 257 senior games.
After retiring from football he ran the Lefroy Hotel in the state's North for a number of years.
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Jock Connell - A Tasmanian Football Legend
