Connor Menadue

Connor Menadue
Menadue with Richmond in June 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-09-19) 19 September 1996
Original team(s) Spotswood (WRFL)
Western Jets (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 33, 2014 AFL National Draft: Richmond
Debut Round 7, 2015, Richmond
vs. Collingwood, at MCG
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Wing
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 37
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2015– Richmond 33 (11)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2018 season.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Connor Menadue (born 19 September 1996) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Richmond in the second round of the 2014 national draft and made his debut in round 7 the following season.

Early life and junior football

Menadue spent his teenage years in Seabrook in Melbourne's south-west.[1] He played junior football with Altona Junior Football Club before crossing over to play with Spotswood in the Western Region Football League in 2012.[1][2][3]

In 2013 Menadue played TAC Cup football with the Western Jets.[2] He returned to the club in 2014, playing 16 games and kicking 16 goals for the season.[4] He also held averages of 19.6 disposals and four tackles per game.[5][6]

Menadue played for the Victorian Metro side at 2014's Under-18 National Championships.[4] He appeared in three matches and recorded an average of five tackles per game.[7]

At the 2014 draft combine he recorded the fifth best time in the 20 metre sprint.[4] He was lauded by draft experts for his elite speed and running ability.[4][8]

AFL career

Menadue was drafted by Richmond with their second pick and 33rd selection overall in the 2014 AFL draft.[9]

He made his AFL debut in round 7 of the 2015 AFL season in a match against Collingwood at the MCG.[10] Menadue was initially selected as an emergency before being called up to the team on the morning of the match.[11] He was substituted into the game at three-quarter time and recorded one disposal and two tackles in the last quarter of the Tigers' victory.[12][13] Menadue kicked his first career goal the next week, in a round 8 victory against Port Adelaide.[14] He would play five straight matches before being omitted from Richmond's round 13 side, playing the rest of the season in the club's reserves side in the VFL.[15][16]

Strong form in the 2016 pre-season competition saw Menadue return to the senior side for round 1, 2015, kicking two goals and recording 13 disposals in the club's victory over Carlton.[17][18] He would go on to play in each of the club's first nine matches.[19] He was subsequently dropped, and played VFL football until being recalled for the club's round 14 match with Brisbane Lions.[19] It was a then-career best match, with Menadue recording his best disposal output to date (19) and a team-high six tackles.[19][20] Menadue was again dropped from the senior side in round 18 before returning in round 22 for just one more senior match.[21][22] He finished the season having played 14 matches and averaging 13.2 disposals.[16]

Menadue tackles Sydney's Zak Jones in round 15 of the 2017 season.

Menadue began 2017 playing with Richmond's reserves side in the VFL and made his first senior appearance in round 4's victory over Brisbane.[23] He was dropped from the side following the round 5 win over Melbourne, but would return in round 9 to face the GWS Giants at Spotless Stadium in Sydney.[24][25] He kicked two goals in the tight loss and would remain in the side for the following two weeks.[26] Through Richmond's bye at the mid-way point of the season he had played five matches, kicked two goals and recorded an average of 11.4 disposals per game.[16] Returning from the bye in round 13 against Sydney, Menadue was involved in an incident where Swans forward Lance Franklin hit him with a bump during play.[27] Menadue spoke down the impacts of the hit and Franklin ultimately avoided suspension.[28] After round 15 Menadue placed second in the league for peak on-field sprint speeds recorded during the season (35.0 kilometres per hour).[29] He played his final senior match for the season in round 16, being dropped the week following for his part in the club's 67-point loss to St Kilda.[30] He played the remainder of the season with the club's reserves side in the VFL. There he joined the team through its three finals wins and in its losing grand final against Port Melbourne.[31] Though he would not play in the match like his premiership winning club mates, Menadue was still involved in Grand Final day, winning the Grand Final sprint and upsetting pre-race favourite Jayden Hunt.[32]

Leading into 2018 Menadue underwent a role change, shifting from the wing to the half-back position.[33] He had a largely uninterrupted pre-season training campaign but some soreness and minor injuries in late February and early March meant he was unable to partake in the AFL pre-season competition.[33][34] He was worked back into fitness during VFL pre-season matches in late March however, including one against the Box Hill Hawks where he recorded an equal team-high 25 disposals.[33][35] Menadue remained with the reserves team into the start of their season proper and after some strong form was named the carryover emergency for the club's AFL match-up with Hawthorn in round 3.[36] Though he would not earn senior selection immediately he did continue an impressive run of form at the lower level, noted by backline coach Ryan Ferguson for his ability to break lines off of half-back.[37][38] In late May he played in his first AFL match of the year, a round 10 victory over St Kilda.[39][40] Menadue remained in the senior side for a further two matches, including in round 11 where he kicked his first goal of the year.[16] He was dropped back to reserves level however, after an eight disposal match against Port Adelaide in round 12.[41][16] There he was immediately trialed in a new role as an inside midfielder which saw him gather seven clearances and 16 contested possessions in a VFL win over the Northern Blues.[42] Menadue was illustrious across multiple roles at VFL level in the month that followed, used as a half-back, wing and inside midfielder before earning an AFL recall in round 18.[43][44][45] An unnamed injury saw Menadue miss in round 19 before making an immediate return in round 20.[46][47] It would prove to be a one-match run though as Menadue was again dropped to VFL level despite gathering a season-best 18 disposals in the win over Geelong.[48][16] He remained at the lower level for the remainder of the season, unable to gain senior selection despite being named as an emergency on multiple occasions.[49] Menadue was a meaningful contributor in the club's two VFL finals losses including recording 26 disposals and two goals in the knock-out semi-final loss to Essendon.[50][51] That effort would see him in the selection frame, though ultimately unselected for the club's final AFL match of the year, a preliminary final loss to Collingwood.[52][53] Menadue finished the year having played five AFL matches as well as 14 with the club's reserves side in the VFL.[16][54]

Menadue signed a contract extension with Richmond in July 2016 and remains contracted with the club until the end of the 2018 season.[55]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season[16]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2015 Richmond 375121613297100.20.43.22.65.81.42.0
2016 Richmond 3714638010518550430.40.25.77.513.23.63.1
2017 Richmond 37931595911829240.30.16.66.613.13.22.7
2018 Richmond 375133921601790.20.67.84.212.03.41.8
Career 33 11 9 194 198 392 103 86 0.3 0.3 5.9 6.0 11.9 3.1 2.6

References

  1. 1 2 Jenkinson, Lance. "AFL draft: Jets' Connor Menadue hopes to burn bright at Richmond". ReviewProperty. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Western Jets TAC Cup Squad 2013". TAC Cup. SportsTG. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "NERVOUS WAIT FOR WRFL DRAFT HOPEFULS". Western Region Football League. SportsTG. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 D'Anello, Luke (17 November 2014). "Free-running AFL draft prospect Connor Menadue certain to be snapped up after starring for Western Jets in the TAC Cup". Hobsons Bay Leader. News Corp. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "WRFL PRODUCTS FIND AFL HOME". Western Region Football League. SportsTG. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  6. ↑ Quayle, Emma (2 October 2014). "AFL draft combine harvester: medium midfielders". The Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "2014 Draft, pick 33: Connor Menadue". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "2014 draft: medium midfielders". Adelaide FC. Bigpond. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "AFL Draft 2014: Club-by-club selections". The Age. Fairfax. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "Carlton Blues make six changes, while St Kilda and GWS remain unchanged for AFL round seven". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Menadue motivated by 2015 lessons". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  12. ↑ Edmund, Sam (27 May 2015). "2015 season: Richmond defeats Collingwood by 5 points at MCG in Round 7". Herald Sun. News Corp.
  13. ↑ "Round 7 2015 - Richmond vs Collingwood". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "Round 8 2015 - Port Adelaide vs Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  15. ↑ King, Travis (25 June 2015). "Teams: Ablett not selected as Bombers make five changes". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Connor Menadue". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (22 March 2016). "Corey Gault, Matt Crouch, Tommy Sheridan: Which players will have breakout years at your club?". Fox Sports. News Corp. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  18. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (28 March 2016). "Menadue makes his mark". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  19. 1 2 3 Greenberg, Tony (27 June 2016). "Menadue's rapid reaction". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  20. ↑ "Round 14 2016 - Richmond vs Brisbane". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  21. ↑ "Drummond returns". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  22. ↑ "AFL round 23 teams: all the ins and outs". The Age. Fairfax. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  23. ↑ "AFL Round 4 teams: Full line-ups and the best SuperCoach advice". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  24. ↑ "AFL Round 6 teams: Full line-ups and the best SuperCoach advice". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  25. ↑ "AFL Teams Round 9: Full squads for every game, ins and outs, injuries, suspensions and team news". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  26. ↑ "Round 9 2017, GWS v Richmond". AFL Tables. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  27. ↑ Colangelo, Anthony (18 June 2017). "'It was more shoulder than head': Richmond player's testimony may help Lance Franklin before MRP". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  28. ↑ "MRP: Swans accept sanctions". Sydney Swans Media. Telstra Media. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  29. ↑ Meldrum, Ethan (7 July 2017). "The Top 10 Fastest Players In The Competition". Triple M. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  30. ↑ "Hardwick wants Tigers to toughen up in AFL". SBS.com.au. SBS. AAP. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  31. ↑ Prime, Toby (24 September 2017). "Port Melbourne wins VFL premiership as Ben Lennon misses kick after final siren". Herald Sun. News Corp Austalia. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  32. ↑ "Richmond's Connor Menadue wins AFL Grand Final sprint". 30 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  33. 1 2 3 "Focus on Connor Menadue". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  34. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (21 March 2018). "How the Tiger midfielders are tracking". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. AFL Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  35. ↑ Navaratnam, Dinny (31 March 2018). "Premiership Tiger impresses in VFL return". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  36. ↑ "The VFL Report: Round 1". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  37. ↑ Mann, Brenton (8 May 2018). "VFL Report: Round 5". Richmond FC. Telstra Media.
  38. ↑ Mann, Brenton (15 May 2018). "VFL Report: Round 6". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  39. ↑ "Final teams: Richmond v St Kilda". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  40. ↑ Twomey, Callum (26 May 2018). "Match report: Hurt Tigers hold off Saints". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  41. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (14 June 2018). "Flag trio recalled". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  42. ↑ "VFL Report: Round 11". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  43. ↑ "VFL Report: Round 14". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "VFL Report: Round 15". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  45. ↑ "AFL teams round 18: Four changes for Carlton". The Age. Fairfax Media. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  46. ↑ Phelan, Jennifer (28 July 2018). "Final teams: Richmond v Collingwood". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  47. ↑ Faulkner, Andrew (3 August 2018). "Geelong pick second ruckman to explot Richmond frailty". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  48. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (9 August 2018). "Flag foursome back to face Suns". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  49. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (23 August 2018). "Top trio to boost Tigers". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  50. ↑ Black, Sarah (8 September 2018). "Axed Tiger shines in heartbreaking VFL loss". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  51. ↑ "State leagues report card: The players pushing for AFL finals selection at your club". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  52. ↑ Phelan, Jennifer (19 September 2018). "Selection not a fait accompli". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. AFL Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  53. ↑ Bowen, Nick (21 September 2018). "Match report: Pies stun Tigers to make GF". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  54. ↑ "Scoring Summary". Peter Jackson VFL 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  55. ↑ "Tiger teenager Menadue re-signs". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
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