Born on 9th June 1953, Leigh McConnon was a brilliant midfielder, tried and proven at the highest level and has proved to be an extremely competent coach.
He began his football with Triabunna in 1968, playing three games in the seniors as a 14 year old before dropping back to the Under 16's.
He polled five votes in the Seniors Best and Fairest Award for the SEDFA competition from those three games.
He went to North Hobart in 1970 playing in the Under 17's and then the Under 19's where he won that competitions Best and Fairest award - the Les Webb Trophy in 1972.As well he captained the team that year.
After serving his apprenticeship in the under age competition he was promoted to the seniors playing in John Devine's 1974 premiership side.
North Hobart 1974 premiership team - Leigh McConnon is standing third from the left in the second row from the back.
The team was full of young players and was called the 'rags to riches' side achieving the ultimate goal, winning the premiership after coming last the previous season. John Devine returned to the playing field midway through the season to lead his team into the finals. They beat Clarence in the first semi final, then Glenorchy in the preliminary and then disposed of Sandy Bay in the grand final winning 21.10.136 to 15.18.108.
Leigh became a State representative in 1974 playing South Australia, Queensland and the ACT and it was then that the Victorian talent scouts began to notice him. It was not long before North Melbourne signed him, with a financial inducement, but the deal fell through and Leigh's father Phil returned the money to North Melbourne.
Carlton then sent Leigh's father a letter and after some deliberation he moved to the mainland. Essendon were also showing interest but after clearance wrangles and other problems were solved Leigh signed with Carlton in 1976 and played senior football under Ian Thorogood. In all he played 26 games for Carlton between 1976-78 for a return of four goals before going to Fitzroy for two years from 1978 -81 under Robert Walls playing 23 games also with a four goal return.
Carlton player Leigh McConnon goes for a big mark against North Melbourne
After leaving Fitzroy he then had three seasons with Williamstown in the VFA from 1981-84 then coached Hadfield in the Essendon district league for two years. Leigh then became playing coach of Sunbury in the Riddell District league in 1987. He won a premiership in his first year and followed up with another, this time as non playing coach.
He returned to Tasmania in 1989 and became assistant senior coach at North Hobart under Gary Davidson as well as reserves coach.
He moved to Clarence as reserves coach in 1990 and took over from Peter Daniels as senior coach of Clarence in 1991.
Leigh coached Clarence until the end of the 1992 season and then decided to try his luck in the media with a job as a commentator for the ABC from 1993-95.
Leigh McConnon in coaching mode; laying down the law to his team.
He had a year off from coaching duties in 1996. He returned to coaching in 1997 taking the job at Kingston in their inaugural season in the newly formed STFL competition. He stayed there for three season winning a premiership in his first year with the Tigers.
He was appointed coach of the Tasmanian Super Rules team in 1999 for the carnival in Darwin. That team won its second consecutive national title in October 1999.
He coached Huonville in the SFL for two years from 1999-2001 and was appointed coach of Glenorchy for the 2002 season.
Along the way, Leigh has had success as a professional runner following in the family tradition of his brothers Des and Kerry.
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