McConnell played 135 games for the Bombers between 1949 and 1956 as was part of that glittering Bombers line-up that included Hutchison, Coleman and Reynolds among others.
Roy McConnell made his debut in round 8, 1949, as a centre half back and played every remaining game that season. In just his 15th game of League football Roy McConnell was at centre-halfback in the 1949 premiership win. He was named among Essendon’s best that day and won the club’s best first year player award.
McConnell’s dream start to football continued the following year when he played all but two games and went on to win his second premiership medal against North Melbourne.
McConnell was a model of consistency and missed only two games in his first 100.
His team-mate and fellow Hall of Fame member Jack Jones, said ‘He was a great player, very much like Dustin Fletcher, wiry, consistent and very hard to score against’.
Though slightly built Roy McConnell was strong, dashing and close marking with a good leap. He played his whole career at either centre-half back or fullback.
McConnell won the club’s most consistent player award in 1955 and was named vice-captain in 1956.
Following his retirement, McConnell joined the Essendon committee where he served his club from 1957 to 1965. He was the club's assistant secretary from 1966 to 1972 and secretary from 1973 to 1980.
In 1981, McConnell became only the second Essendon recipient of the League’s "Jack Titus Recognition of Service" award for his contribution to his club.
We induct Roy McConnell as a member of the Essendon Football Club Hall of Fame.
