Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

For weeks, there has been speculation that Chris Connolly would be gone as senior coach by the end of the season or before. That speculation has become a reality with the club announcing that Connolly will no longer coach the club. According to a media statement released by Fremantle, numerous discussions have taken place in recent weeks between Connolly and the board. Connolly told the board on Monday that he would not seek a new contract, after which the board considered a number of options for the remainder of the season. Those options were to have Connolly see out the season, step down immediately, or coach at least two more games and have a send-off at Subiaco Oval.

Connolly decided it was in the best interests of the club to step aside immediately. Connolly said his decision not to continue would allow the club to "....set the methodology for next year and beyond, set the list management strategies and all those things necessary to position the club for the future." He acknowledged the support he had received from the board, club staff, and players and said his time as coach had been fantastic and a pleasure. He also paid tribute to the passionate supporters.

Fremantle president Rick Hart paid tribute to Connolly and his success in getting the Dockers into the finals for the first time in their brief AFL history, coning to the club at the lowest time in its history. Hart, in the media statement, said of Connolly, “He has been fantastic for our football club, showing an amazing passion for the club and our supporters, and has worked tirelessly to help this club every step along the way, always above and beyond what would normally be expected of a Senior Coach.....Chris has played a pivotal role getting our club to this position....On behalf of the Board of Directors and everyone at the club I would like to sincerely thank Chris and his family for being such an important part of Fremantle."

Connolly coached Fremantle in 129 games for an impressive winning ratio of 51.9%. He led the team to their first ever finals appearance in 2003 and to the 2006 Preliminary Final. Since Connolly’s appointment, club membership has risen from 23,775 in 2002 to 43,343 in 2007. Match attendances also rose from an average of 26,359 to 36, 571. In 2006, over 400,000 people attended home games at Subiaco Oval.

CEO Cameron Schwab not only paid tribute to Connolly's contribution as Senior Coach and the rebuilding of the football department and the football team, but also to the role he played within the club. Schwab said that Connolly took on one of the greatest challenges in the competition in becoming coach of the Dockers when they were at rock bottom, " The team was totally non-competitive and had never finished higher than twelfth on the ladder....he has....given Fremantle supporters some of their greatest moments, particularly our first finals appearance in 2003 and our first finals win which took us into a Preliminary Final last year. “He is has been rock solid in his commitment...unaffected by the extreme pressure and expectations which have been....a part of his time as coach....". Schwab went on to say that Connolly had been an inspiration, warm, caring, unpretentious and had a sense of humor and could be proud of what he achieved in his time as coach.

Assistant coach Mark Harvey will fill in as Senior Coach for the rest of the season. Harvey, who served as an assistant under Kevin Sheedy at Essendon after retiring as a player, is widely favored to take over the senior position. The departed Connolly, gave Harvey, who has been with Fremantle for two seasons, a strong endorsement as a senior coach. Connolly appeared on the Thursday Footy Show and said the appointment of Harvey would allow him to show his wares to the club and give him the chance to see if he really wants a senior coaching job. Connolly, who plans to take a month off to consider his options, also said Harvey very definitely was coaching material.

Other potential candidates for the senior job are Eagle assistant Peter Sumich, the recently departed Demon coach Neale Daniher, Bulldog assistant coach and former Docker Chris Bond, Sydney assistant and former Kangaroo John Longmire, former Eagle Don Pyke (currently coaching in the WAFL), and former Brisbane champion Michael Voss who is currently working in the media and coaching at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Source: Keith Black, Club Media Release & Melbourne Age