GEELONG Cats premiership player and Irish import Mark O’Connor will stay at Kardinia Park for a further two seasons.<\/p>\n
The Cats announced O’Connor’s extension after Geelong’s Round 5 win over North Melbourne. It follows another strong outing from the defender, and will mean he will remain with Geelong until the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
“It’s crazy,” O’Connor said.<\/p>\n
“I just take it year by year and for it to be nearly 10 years…I can barely believe it.<\/p>\n
“[I’m] happy with how it’s gone.”<\/p>\n
O’Connor was recruited from County Kerry, Ireland, as an emerging Gaelic footballer before switching the round ball for the Sherrin.<\/p>\n
He also won two All-Ireland Under-18 medals with Kerry in 2014 and 2015.<\/p>\n
O’Connor officially joined the Cats in 2016 as a Category B Rookie, making his debut the following season against Essendon at the MCG, where he registered one kick and eight handballs.<\/p>\n
O’Connor has become a key cog within Chris Scott’s playing list since 2019, taking part in at least 20 games for four of the last five seasons.<\/p>\n
Playing mostly across halfback and occasionally in the midfield, O’Connor created a memory for life as part of Geelong’s 2022 premiership season.<\/p>\n
O’Connor stated the lure of returning home to Ireland is one that still remains in the back of his head, often returning to his native land during the offseason.<\/p>\n
“It’s always something that comes up at the end of every year because I have a very strong connection with home.<\/p>\n
“So, it’s definitely something I’ve thought about but I’m very happy here now and this will take me to ten years in Geelong, so I’m very settled with my decision.”<\/p>\n
O’Connor is one of three Irish players on Geelong’s AFL list, next to Zach Tuohy and Oisin Mullin.<\/p>\n
He is also one of seven in total at the Cats, with Geelong’s AFLW squad boasting four Irish-born players in Aishling Moloney, Rachel Kearns, Anna-Rose Kennedy and Kate Kenny.<\/p>\n
Geelong Cats general manager of football Andrew Mackie said the club has great respect for what Mark has achieved in his career.<\/p>\n
“He has become a reliable and versatile player for us and [we] look forward to seeing him continue to wear the Hoops.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GEELONG Cats premiership player and Irish import Mark O’Connor will stay at Kardinia Park for a further two seasons. The Cats announced O’Connor’s extension after Geelong’s Round 5 win over North Melbourne. It follows another strong outing from the defender, and will mean he will remain with Geelong until the end of 2026. “It’s crazy,” […]<\/p>\n