Monique Conti

Monique Conti (born 9 December 1999) is an Australian rules footballer and basketballer. Conti currently plays for the Richmond Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) and the Southside Flyers in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), having previously played for the Western Bulldogs from 2018 to 2019 and the Melbourne Boomers from 2016 to 2020.

Monique Conti
Conti post-match with Richmond in 2020
Personal information
Full name Monique Conti
Date of birth (1999-12-09) 9 December 1999
Place of birth Fitzroy, Victoria
Original team(s) Melbourne University (VFLW)
Draft No. 4, 2017 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, Western Bulldogs
vs. Fremantle, at VU Whitten Oval
Height 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 4
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018–2019 Western Bulldogs 15 (4)
2020– Richmond 07 (0)
Total 22 (4)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 1, 2021.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

As an Australian rules footballer, Conti won an AFL Women's premiership with the Bulldogs in 2018, and was adjudged best afield in the grand final. She was also selected in the 2019 AFL Women's All-Australian team and won the Western Bulldogs best and fairest award in 2019 before moving to Richmond, where she was the inaugural Richmond best and fairest winner in her first season at the club. Conti received a nomination for the 2018 AFL Women's Rising Star award in round 4 of the 2018 season.

As a basketballer, Conti was a member of the Australian team that won the gold medal at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women and was named in that year's All-Tournament Team. She also won the WNBL Rookie of the Year Award in her first WNBL season with the Boomers in 2017, before moving to the Flyers ahead of the 2020, winning a WNBL championship in her first season at the club.

Early life

Conti was born in Fitzroy, Victoria.[1] She studied at Maribyrnong College in her secondary school years, and looked up to other Australian dual-sport athletes such as Ellyse Perry and fellow footballer/basketballer and AFL Women's player Erin Phillips.[2][3]

Conti started playing football from the age of ten, playing with boys at the Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club until the age of 14 and then in the Melbourne University under-18 youth girls team until the age of 17, making the Vic Metro and All-Australian teams in all three years playing at that level.[3] In September 2016, Conti was one of 15 players from around Australia selected in level 2 of the inaugural AFL Women's academy.[1] Conti played for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup Girls in 2017[3] alongside current AFL Women's players such as AFL Women's Rising Star winners Chloe Molloy and Madison Prespakis, and was coached by current player Alicia Eva.[1] Earlier in the year, at a testing day prior to the five-round season, she ranked first among TAC Cup Girls players in both the 20-metre sprint and agility test.[1] Conti also played for Melbourne University in the VFL Women's (VFLW) in 2017 before being drafted.[4]

Conti started playing basketball from the age of five,[2] playing with the Melbourne Tigers for the entirety of her junior basketball years and in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 2017 and 2018.[5] Prior to the creation of the AFL Women's, Conti had aspirations to play college basketball in the United States from a young age, and received offers from over thirty schools to play there at the age of 16, but instead committed to studying at Deakin University, which was aligned with the Melbourne Boomers, allowing her to continue her studies and to continue playing basketball at national level, along with football.[2][3] She began studying a business degree there in 2018 while also part of its Elite Athlete program.[6]

AFL Women's career
Conti playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2018

Western Bulldogs (2018–2019)

Conti was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with the club's second selection and fourth overall in the 2017 AFL Women's draft.[7] She made her debut in the twenty-six point win against Fremantle in round 1, 2018 at VU Whitten Oval.[8] In round 4, Conti received a nomination for the 2018 AFL Women's Rising Star award after recording 16 disposals in her side's win over Carlton,[9] and went on to finish second in the voting for the award with 39 votes, 11 behind winner Chloe Molloy.[10] She was also selected in afl.com.au's Team of the Week in rounds 3[11] and 5.[12] Conti was a member of the Western Bulldogs team that won the AFL Women's premiership in 2018, defeating Brisbane by six points at Ikon Park, and won the medal for best-on-ground in the grand final.[13] She was also named in the initial 2018 AFL Women's All-Australian 40-woman squad.[14] The Western Bulldogs signed Conti for the 2019 season during the trade and signing period in May 2018.

Conti improved on her debut season in 2019, achieving selection in womens.afl's Team of the Week in round 7 after recording a then-career-high 25 disposals in the Bulldogs' loss to Carlton at VU Whitten Oval[15] and finishing equal-fourth in the 2019 AFL Women's best and fairest count with seven votes. She was also named in the 2019 AFL Women's All-Australian team[16] and won the Western Bulldogs best and fairest award.[17]

Richmond (2020–present)
Conti playing for Richmond in 2020

In April 2019, Conti was traded to Richmond for the first selection in the 2019 AFL Women's draft[18] and began playing for the club's VFL Women's team the following month.[19] Conti went on to win the club's VFLW best and fairest award[20][21] and finish second in voting for the Lambert–Pearce Medal, despite only playing seven games.[22][23] By December, it became known that Conti could miss up to the first five games of Richmond's inaugural season in the AFLW due to the 2020 WNBL Finals clashing with the opening rounds of the 2020 AFL Women's season;[20] however, in January 2020, Conti announced that she had requested to be released from her Melbourne Boomers contract to focus fully on playing in Richmond's inaugural AFLW season.[24][25]

Leading into the 2020 season, womens.afl journalist Sarah Black named Conti at no. 13 on her list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[26] She made her Richmond debut in the club's inaugural game against Carlton at Ikon Park, and was named among Richmond's best players.[27] Conti was named among Richmond's best players in all six matches, averaging a career-high 19.8 disposals per game,[28] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week in round 4;[29] in the round 4 match, Conti recorded five tackles and a career-high 28 disposals in the loss to Geelong.[28] She went on to be selected in the initial 40-woman squad for the 2020 AFL Women's All-Australian team.[30][31][32] Conti was also selected in the AFL Players Association's inaugural AFL Women's 22under22 team,[33][34][35] having earlier been selected in the retrospective 2017–2019 team,[36] and won the inaugural Richmond best and fairest award.[37][38]

Leading into the 2021 season, Sarah Black again named Conti at no. 13 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[39]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of round 1, 2021.[40]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Significant statistics
# Played in that season's premiership team
AFLW playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2018#Western Bulldogs8 833713810923140.40.48.94.813.62.91.80
2019Western Bulldogs8 713735312620310.10.410.47.618.02.94.47
2020Richmond4 602615811916290.00.310.29.719.82.74.87
2021Richmond4 1009312230.00.09.03.012.02.03.0
Career 224821415236661770.20.49.76.916.62.83.514

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

Basketball career
Monique Conti
No. 14 – Southside Flyers
PositionGuard
LeagueWomen's National Basketball League
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Career history
2016–2020Melbourne Boomers
2020–Southside Flyers
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Australia
Basketball
FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women
2016 Spain Team

Melbourne Boomers

Conti began her professional career with the Melbourne Boomers in the 2016–17 season, where she remained through 2019–20 season.[41] Just prior to the start of the 2019-20 finals series, Conti sought a release from her contract over conflicts between her basketball and football commitments.[42] The release allowed her to play from the opening round of the AFLW season, but saw her give up the final year of her Boomers contract.[43]

Southside Flyers

Conti joined the Southside Flyers for the 2020 season,[44] with the condensed fixture in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic allowing Conti to complete the full commitments of both the WNBL and AFL Women's seasons.[45] Conti was a member of the Flyers team that won the WNBL championship that season, the Flyers' first since changing their name from the Dandenong Rangers.[46][47][48]

National team

Conti made her junior international debut at the 2016 U17 World Championship in Spain with the U17 Sapphires. Conti lead the Sapphires to their inaugural title in Spain. After snapping team USA's 28-game win streak at U17 level, Australia went on to take home Gold. Alongside two of her teammates, Conti was named to the All-Tournament Team.[49]

References
  1. Andrews, Dean (5 April 2018). "In her debut AFLW season Monique Conti plays in a premiership and win the medal for best on ground in the Grand Final". Milestones and Misses. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  2. Banister, Jack (23 March 2018). "Basketball court or footy field, tiny dancer Conti owns the floor". The Citizen. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  3. Conti, Monique (28 February 2018). "The ball is in my court". Exclusive Insight. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  4. Lusted, Peter (3 February 2018). "AFLW: Monique Conti in Western Bulldogs line-up days after playing WNBL final". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  5. "Monie Conti returns to SEABL Women's team 2018". tigersbasketball.com.au. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  6. Hare, Jessie (9 April 2018). ""There was a lot of people telling me I can't be good at two things" – Monique Conti proves the doubters wrong". Dscribe. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  7. Cherney, Daniel (18 October 2017). "2017 AFLW draft: Isabel Huntington goes at pick No.1 to Western Bulldogs". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  8. Salemme, Kate (1 February 2018). "AFLW Round 1 teams named: Stars set for second season". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. Saulry, Meg (27 February 2018). "AFLW: Dogs double up again in Rising Star". afl.com.au. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  10. Navaratnam, Dinny (27 March 2018). "W Awards: Dogs star named League B&F". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  11. Buxton, Aaron (19 February 2018). "AFLW Team of the Week: Superstar Crow returns". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  12. Black, Sarah; Saultry, Meg (6 March 2018). "AFLW: Dees own midfield in team of the week". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  13. Matthews, Bruce (24 March 2018). "AFLW match report: Dogs take out flag". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  14. "AFLW: Pies and Dees dominate AA squad". afl.com.au. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  15. Black, Sarah (19 March 2019). "Team of the Week: Preliminary final opponents dominate R7". womens.afl. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  16. Navaratnam, Dinny (2 April 2019). "Five Crows, four Roos headline All Australian team". womens.afl. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
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  18. "AFLW: Tigers trade No.1 pick to poach another star Bulldog". womens.afl. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  19. "VFLW STATS CENTRAL: Round 3". vfl.com.au. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  20. Black, Sarah (17 December 2019). "Star Tigers recruit could miss up to three games due to WNBL". womens.afl. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  21. Colangelo, Anthony (27 November 2019). "Conti's Olympic ambitions won't be dented by more footy". The Age. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  22. Black, Sarah (11 September 2019). "AFLW players dominate in state league best and fairest awards". womens.afl. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  23. Kelly, Grace (10 September 2019). "Conti runner up in Lambert-Pearce Medal". richmondfc.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  24. Canil, Jourdan (30 January 2020). "Tiger turns back on Boomers to focus on AFLW". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  25. Ward, Roy (30 January 2020). "Monique Conti leaves WNBL club to play full AFLW season with Richmond". The Age. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  26. Black, Sarah (25 January 2020). "Sarah Black's top 30: New Tiger storms in at No.13". womens.afl. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  27. Beveridge, Riley (7 February 2019). "Match report: Blues batter Tigers in blockbuster opener". womens.afl. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  28. "Conti selected in AFLW All-Australian squad". richmondfc.com.au. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  29. Black, Sarah (3 March 2020). "AFLW Team of the Week, round four". womens.afl. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  30. Black, Sarah (3 April 2020). "REVEALED: Magpies lead the way in All-Australian squad". womens.afl. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  31. "AFLW statement: 2020 AFLW All-Australian Squad". womens.afl. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  32. Negrepontis, Nic (3 April 2020). "Official 2020 AFLW All-Australian squad revealed". SEN. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  33. Beveridge, Riley (20 April 2020). "AFLPA award winners revealed: MVP, best captain, more". womens.afl. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  34. Negrepontis, Nic (20 April 2020). "2020 AFLW 22 under 22 team revealed". SEN. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  35. "AFLW 22under22 side revealed". aflplayers.com.au. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  36. Black, Sarah (26 March 2020). "Crows dominate inaugural 22under22 squad". womens.afl. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  37. "Best and fairest wrap-up: Who won your club's awards?". womens.afl. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  38. "Conti becomes Richmond's inaugural AFLW best and fairest". richmondfc.com.au. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  39. Black, Sarah (27 January 2021). "Sarah Black's top 30 AFLW players: Blues dynamo rockets up to No.1". womens.afl. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  40. "Monique Conti". Australian Football. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  41. "Boomers Add Australian Sapphires Guard Monique Conti". wnbl.com.au.
  42. Ward, Roy (30 January 2020). "Monique Conti leaves WNBL club to play full AFLW season with Richmond". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  43. Waterworth, Ben (30 January 2020). "Cross-code star Monique Conti walks out on Melbourne Boomers to prioritise AFLW". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  44. "ELITE DUAL-SPORT ATHLETE MONIQUE CONTI RETURNS TO BASKETBALL WITH THE FLYERS". Southside Flyers. Basketball Australia. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  45. "Conti signs with Southside Flyers for compressed WNBL season". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  46. Ward, Roy (20 December 2020). "'We did it': Flyers beat Townsville to win first WNBL championship". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  47. "Southside Flyers beat Townsville Fire 99-82 to win WNBL championship". ABC News (Australia). 20 December 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  48. "Southside Flyers are your WNBL20 champions!". wnbl.basketball. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  49. "Magbegor named MVP of 2016 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship, headlines All-Star Five". fiba.com.
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