Connor Rozee

Connor Rozee (born 22 January 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by Port Adelaide with the 5th draft pick in the 2018 AFL Draft.[1]

Connor Rozee
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-01-22) 22 January 2000
Place of birth Port Augusta, South Australia
Original team(s) North Adelaide (SANFL)
Draft No. 5, 2018 AFL draft, Port Adelaide
Debut 23 March 2019, Port Adelaide
vs. Melbourne, at MCG
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 74 kg (163 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder/Utility
Club information
Current club Port Adelaide
Number 20
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019– Port Adelaide 38 (38)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020, Round 2.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Rozee was born in South Australia and played junior football with Spencer Gulf Football League (SGFL) club South Augusta.[2] In 2016, he won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player of the Under 16 AFL National Championship while also winning South Australia's Most Valuable Player award.[3] Rozee played for South Australia in the AFL Under 18 Championships but was not pleased with his performance. He averaged 13 disposals across the carnival, showed some flashes and his state claimed the title, but it wasn't the standout period he was hoping for.[4] After the championship, Port Adelaide AFL premiership player and North Adelaide Football Club coach Josh Carr gave Rozee his senior South Australian National Football League (SANFL) debut in 2018 and Rozee repaid his faith with an impressive campaign including a couple of vital performances in the Roosters’ successful finals series.[3] Rozee went on to feature in the club's SANFL premiership win, with his improved form at the back end of the season against senior players showing why he is in the elite group of prospects at the top end of the draft.[4] At the AFL Draft Combine, Rozee finished in the top 10 for the standing vertical jump and running vertical jump tests and agility test and was second overall in the 20m sprint (2.91 seconds).[3] Port Adelaide selected Rozee at pick 5 in the 2018 AFL draft.[5]

Rozee's father Robert Rozee played for SANFL club South Adelaide and was a premiership player, club champion and club coach at South Augusta.[2]

He is also well known for his time spent playing cricket at Hope Valley with close mate Oliver Pannell

AFL career

Rozee made his AFL debut in Port Adelaide's upset win over Melbourne in the opening round of the 2019 AFL season.[6] In Round 2, He kicked his first AFL goal and his second only minutes later in a win over Carlton. In round 3, Rozee kicked five goals and had 21 disposals in Port's 17 point loss to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, earning him the Rising Star nomination.[7] Rozee became the youngest Port Adelaide player to kick 5 goals in an AFL match.[8] He also in 2019 went on to be Port Adelaide's youngest ever leading goalscorer and named into the AFL's 22under22 team.

After a promising first season, Rozee lacked a little bit of form to start the 2020 AFL season with shaping into a midfield role and over unfortunate events, the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

References
  1. "Port Adelaide select Connor Rozee with pick 5". portadelaidefc.com.au. 22 November 2018.
  2. Balsamo, Marco. "Port Augusta's Connor Rozee picked by Port Adelaide". The Transcontinental Port Augusta. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  3. "The fact file: Connor Rozee". portadelaidefc.com.au. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  4. "Tomorrow's Heroes: Connor Rozee". goldcoastfc.com.au. 6 November 2018.
  5. "The indicative 2018 AFL national draft order". 23 November 2018.
  6. "AFL Round 1: Melbourne vs Port Adelaide, win, Ken Hinkley reaction, press conference, Jack Watts". Fox Sports. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  7. Collins, Ben (8 April 2019). "Life's looking Rozee for Power's Rising Star nominee". afl.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  8. "Rozee becomes youngest Power player to kick 5 goals in a game". portadelaidefc.com.au. 9 April 2019.
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