During this podcast we catch up with first year Hawthorn Football Club youngster Connor Downie! ????
Connor was drafted at Pick 35 in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft and was aligned to the Hawks as a Next Generation Academy (NGA) product, through his Chinese heritage! ???????? He’s a strongly built run-and-carry wingman/half back flanker, with a penetrating left foot and is a natural leader, as evident by the fact he was named captain of the Eastern Ranges Football Club NAB League team prior to the COVID-19 ruined 2020 season! ????
Connor was a bottom aged representative of the stacked Vic Metro Under 18 side in 2019 and has also thrived on the opportunities presented to him as part of the AFL National Academy! ????????
We’re really appreciative that we got an opportunity to catch up with Connor and get an greater insight into his amazing journey from NAB AFL Auskick and his pathway into the AFL! ????
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Nicknames: I have a couple, CD is one, C Down gets thrown around a bit and I don’t mind that one.
Preferred position/s: Probably where I’m playing now on the wing, bit of half-forward as well.
Best player/s you played with and against: Probably playing NAB League with Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, especially in the Grand final where Matt got like 44 touches. Another good mate of mine in Will Phillips is a prominent player and we’ve had a few good battles over the years.
Best teammate/s: A lot of the Eastern Ranges boys back in my bottom age year. Some of them were really unlucky through covid to not get drafted as they had really consistent years but unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to play.
Most annoying teammate: Oh, I wouldn’t say annoying, but big Denver Grainger-Barras loves a good chat. He’s a good fella.
Invite 3 people of your choice to a dinner party: I’d love to pick the brains of Michael Jordan and analyse his psychology and how he was able to perform so well, and his trainer Tim Grover who’s a pretty knowledgeable guy as well.
3 things people don’t know about you: I don’t know I guess, but I’m pretty intense on the field and at training but off-field I’m pretty relaxed and like to do my own thing, I like to read books (not really novels but anything mindfulness related and things that help the mind), and I love music and playing guitar.
