Past Michael Conlan (1977-1989)

[3KZ is Football]

 

[3KZ is Football]

Wikipedia

Born in Tasmania, Conlan played with the Manuka Football Club in the Australian Capital Territory before being recruited to the VFL by the Fitzroy Football Club. He debuted in 1977 and played mostly at half-forward or in a forward pocket wearing the No. 12 guernsey. He was noted for his explosive power, and kicked numerous World of Sport "Goals of the week" typically on bursting runs down the flanks. His emphasis on strength training and muscular physique preempted what was to be more common in later decades.

Statistics:

afl tables

 

[Grimreepah]

Fitzroy Team of the Century

B:       Bill Stephen         [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=910582"]Fred Hughson[/URL]       Frank Curico
HB:      [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=715278"]Kevin Murray[/URL] (c)     [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=788519"]Paul Roos[/URL]          [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=789272"]Gary Pert[/URL] 
C:       [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=794205"]Wilfred Smallhorn[/URL]    [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=794296"]John Murphy[/URL]        Warwick Irwin
HF:      Owen Abrahams        [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=787666"]Bernie Quinlan[/URL]     [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=787989"]Gary Wilson[/URL] (vc)
F:       [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=885563"]Allan Ruthven[/URL]        [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=21743771"]Jack Moriarty[/URL]      Norm Brown
R:       Alan Gale            [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=909123"]Norm Johnstone[/URL]     [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=793028"]Haydn Bunton[/URL]
I:       [U]Michael Conlan[/U]       [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134778"]Alaistar Lynch[/URL]     [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=903855"]Harvey Merrigan[/URL]   
         [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=788524"]Richard Osborne[/URL]      [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=853635"]Percy Parratt[/URL]      [URL="http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=912887"]Percy Trotter[/URL]
Coach:   Len Smith

Link

Michael Conlan played 210 games for Fitzroy between 1977 and 1989. He kicked 394 goals in his career. In three consecutive years between 1982 and 1984 he kicked over 50 goals as an effective foil to Bernie Quinlan. He had a magnificent physique and is considered one of the hardest trainers of his era. He played interstate football for both Victoria and the A.C.T. He kicked 41 goals in his 23 night games that included the 1978 Night Premiership. He kicked 12 goals in his nine finals games but none more famous than his match-winner in the 1986 Elimination Final against Essendon. His last game for Fitzroy was in the winning 1989 Grand Final team.

Link

 

[3KZ is Football]

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[Dylan12]

While only a young fella, all of my earliest footy memories involve the 'Tank'. Had his number on all of my footy jumpers and name and number on my duffle coat in blue, yellow and red lettering:

Mickey
12
Conlan

I still have very fond memories of the 86 Elimination Final against the Bombers when he was blanketed by Billy Duckworth IIRC and came back on won the game.

Similar to my story of Bernie Quinlan, Mick often got down to my junior footy club, Beaumaris Sharks, where his son played a year or two under my team, so I was very fortunate to meet and see him regularly. I think quite a few of the Royboys lived down the Bayside suburbs through that period.

Now, I just hope he re-joins the club as the CEO.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link to article

Heavyweights Essendon and Hawthorn had dominated the VFL for the past four years, and the battling Lions caught the imagination of every neutral observer.

After finishing fourth on the table with a 13-9 record, Fitzroy disposed of back-to-back premiers Essendon with a thrilling one-point win in a titanic Elimination Final. The muscular Michael Conlan was the hero.

[YOUTUBE]GQQR4KPPUYA[/YOUTUBE]

 

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Link to article

Conlan was taken to heart at Uni Oval for his football pedigree, remarkable fitness, fastidious personal grooming and unique turns of phrase (“expect the expected” and “sock rolid” being two of note).

 

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Link to site

Many commentators say Conlan known as ‘the tank’ in his playing days changed the way AFL was played. A game for "footballers" was transformed into a game for super fit "athletes" from the late 1980s.

 

[Mr Ripper]

I still have very fond memories of the 86 Elimination Final against the Bombers when he was blanketed by Mick Thomson and came back on won the game.

EFA

Now, I just hope he re-joins the club as the CEO.

 

[Grimreepah]

Grand Final Sprint Winners:

1979 - Geoff Ablett
1980 - Goeff Ablett
1981 - Geoff Ablett
1982 - Michael Conlan
1983 - Frank Marchesani
1984 - Doug Cox

 

[Grimreepah]

Conlan's father

Although courted by a number of VFL clubs, Neil Conlan remained in Tasmania, where he played 103 games with Devonport, before moving to the ACT in 1967 and coaching Manuka to six flags in eight seasons. Neil Conlan died prematurely at age 42 in Canberra. Former Advocate sports editor Allan Leeson described Conlan as "the meanest, toughest footballer Tasmania ever produced, and one of the best."

 

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Link to article

I can still remember a lithe Alastair Lynch jumping over packs to take ‘hangers’, Paul Roos storming down the ground from centre-half-back to set up a goal, and a barrel-chested Michael Conlan busting through two opponents, dummying two more, and goalling on the run from the impossible angle.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Some vintage Conlan goals in these clips. Conlan had phenomenal pace and beautiful balance, which made him unstoppable when he was in full flight.

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[Grimreepah]

Link ....

"In 1979, the club had asked whether I would have an issue with us relocating to Sydney," Conlan recalled. "I came from Canberra so I said, 'No, not at all, that's even closer to home for me', and that's what they were planning to do in 1980 or '81. Just before '86, we moved to Northcote (in Melbourne's inner north) for our training venue, and that's when I could sense the club was in real trouble financially."

On the 1986 elimination final:

"It was just one of those days where you don't get near it, and I often think, 'Gee I was even lucky to stay on the ground and not be replaced', so I was very fortunate," Conlan observed.

"It was wet and slippery and I could have sprayed it, but fortunately it hit the foot right and went straight through the middle.

"I often think if I'd missed that, I would have had to keep running and jump the fence, and if I had that kick five times again in those conditions, you probably wouldn't kick it five times in a row."

What often gets forgotten is that the following week Conlan starred with four goals in the come-from-behind win over the Sydney Swans at the MCG.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Bernie 'Superboot' Quinlan (1978 - 1986)

Footy record

Michael Conlan was one of Fitzroy's star during the 1970s and '80s. He had a quiet day in the 1986 elimination final but will always be remembered for kicking the winning goal.

Bernie Quinlan missed the elimination final through injury but he was quick to congratulate Michael Conlan for his last-goal heroics.

 

[Grimreepah]

Mick plays his game back to front
Footy Record 1981
Round 5, page 43

At times, Mick Conlan loolcs as if he is at the wrong end of the ground. The rugged Fitzroy forward plays the game like a defender. He is never afraid to rush through a pack, spread-eagling players with his strongly-built frame. His front-on attack of the ball is not what most defenders are used to and the style is paying big dividends. Conlan is now regarded as one of the most dangerous forwards in the game, capable of kicking a bag of goals. His aggressive style is vital to the Lions who are not endowed with physically strong players.

It is Conlan's dynamic acceleration that sets him apart from most players and coupled with his strength, he has the ability to score the most difficult of goals. His kicking is his greatest problem although this part of his game has shown remarkable improvement since he first played with the Lions in 1977. In his first season, he tended to spray the ball, missing many easy opportunities created by players further downfield.

 

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March 27, 1984

Raines, 27, was found guilty of having struck Fitzroy's Michael Conlan with a right clenched fist to the head during the third quarter of last Saturday's practice match at Victoria Park.

"I ran absolutely flat out after my player," Raines said. "I just went full bore. Michael is a very muscular man, more muscular than me and I had to try and protect myself. I came from the side, we collided, but at no time did I hit him at the back of the head."

 

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Footy Record 1989
Round 12, page 10

More recently came the drama centred on Fitzroy's Michael Conlan and Collingwood's Doug Barwick. They had not been reported by any umpires in round six, but the VFL Commission laid the striking charges against them after viewing video film. Conlan received four matches for striking Eagles player Andrew Lockyer and Barwick, three, for striking Melbourne ruckman Steve O'Dwyer.

 

[Grimreepah]

 

[Mr Ripper]

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/03/06/conlan-is-new-queensland-afl-boss/

FORMER Fitzroy hard man Michael Conlan has been appointed to run Queensland AFL.

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[Lace Out]

Thats big news

 

[Haso]

AFL could go the North Queensland: Conlon
February 17, 2013
Greg Davis

NORTH Queensland could be home to a relocated AFL club by 2030.

That is the bold vision of AFL Queensland chief Michael Conlan, who claims a booming population will justify a third club in the state.

The former Fitzroy star said that club would likely be a Melbourne entity, but north Queensland had the venues and passion to make it work.

He favours a relocation model ahead of a fresh start-up such as the Bears in 1987 or the Suns in 2011.