Connolly, who retired during the 1990 season after 84 matches because of knee injuries, recalls Neitz and another then young tyro, David Schwarz, as two gems unearthed by the club.
"David Neitz and David Schwarz were coached by a guy called Mark Cross [under-19s and reserves coach] and they were seen as being very special and that's been proved to fruition," Connolly told melbournefc.com.au.
"If Schwarta hadn't have done his knees, he'd be probably retiring around the same time, so they've been bookends.
"I think one of the things about David Neitz is that he's had to work at his game, but he's been able to fill a variety of roles, depending on what the team needed - centre half-back or forward All-Australian and he did everything asked of him."
Connolly recalls Neitz fondly during his days as a runner for the reserves in 1991.
"What happened in 1991 was I was runner for the reserves because I'd finished playing, and back then he was playing between the reserves and under-19s", Connolly said.
"When someone special comes into the club, everyone becomes aware of it and the guys now are talking about Cale Morton and Austin Wonaeamirri - they know there is something special there, so David Neitz certainly fitted that bracket."
