Mark O'Connor Biography

Mark O'Connor signs a contract extension to remain with the Cats for another two years.

Mark O'Connor has returned from Ireland and is back training following an extended stay at home following Geelong's 2022 premiership win.

Mark O'Connor flew home within a week of the Cats' Grand Final defeat in October, and after a nervous wait and three flights to get back into Australia, found himself quarantined in Perth to start 2021.

Regarded as one of Geelong's most diligent trainers, O'Connor was forced to find different techniques to ready his body for pre-season number five.

"I didn't have weights, but I had resistance bands and had a TRX, a thing you hang off a door and can do certain exercises off that," he told AFL.com.au after his first week back at GMHBA Stadium.

"The club organised a treadmill for me so that came in day three or four which made it a lot easier. Then Joel Selwood and (strength and conditioning coach) John Leyden organised a Ross Faulkner footy, one you attach to your back and chest on an elastic band and it comes back quite quickly.

"I also tried yoga, 20 to 30 minutes each afternoon which was nice and relaxing after running on the treadmill and doing leg work in the morning."

Mark O'Connor says he has chosen to give up Gaelic football as part of his commitment to the Cats.

Five days prior to the Cats' 2019 best and fairest ceremony, O'Connor played Gaelic football for Dingle in their Kerry County senior championship semi-final win and was forced to apologise to the Cats when they found out.

"I've reflected on that quite a bit. In the context I was in at the time, it was just something I felt I had to do. I can't say I regret it, it was very special for me and my family at home," he said.

"It was a big occasion and I actually made a big decision not to play after that, there were two games remaining in the championship. I had to take some counsel from family and those closest to me about making a decision because, ultimately, if I did play, it meant that maybe Geelong didn't want me anymore.

"That was actually one of the toughest sporting decisions I've had to make. It probably solidified that I did want to be in Geelong."

Joel Selwood will remain as Geelong skipper for a ninth consecutive season in 2020.

Patrick Dangerfield and Mark Blicavs will continue as co-vice captains alongside last year's members Mitch Duncan, Tom Stewart and Zach Tuohy.

Rounding out the seven-man leadership group is Mark O'Connor, who replaces veteran defender Harry Taylor.

Zach Tuohy urges AFL clubs to realise the importance of Irish players returning home in the off-season to feature for their local Gaelic sides.

Tuohy's comments come in the wake of fellow Irish Cat Mark O'Connor being forced to apologise to club officials last month after it was discovered he had played for Dingle in its Kerry county senior championship semi-final during his off-season trip.

"If they want players to come over from here, they will have to appreciate what it is they are giving up. Most players will tell you the club means more than the county," Tuohy said.

"If the opportunity is there for a 19-year-old to leave and play for his club, [the AFL clubs] are going to have to accept it is going to happen.

"They are just going to have to wrap their heads around how much club football means to the Irish lads."

Mark O'Connor is forced to apologise to Geelong officials after they discovered he played a recent Gaelic football match without the Cats' permission.

O'Connor returned home to Ireland after playing in Geelong's losing elimination final to Melbourne and lined up for Dingle in their Kerry county senior championship semi-final on September 29.

"It was down to the risk of injury which would then compromise his ability to play and train for Geelong," Cats head of football Simon Lloyd said.

"We (told Mark we) cannot provide permission for you to play in further Gaelic football games as it's a breach to his contract."

Mark O'Connor has emerged as a contender for round one selection against Melbourne on Sunday, promoted from the rookie list.

As a category B rookie, the 21-year-old needed to be upgraded to the senior list, compared to traditional rookies who don't need an elevation, after off-season rule changes.

He replaces Quinton Narkle who continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury he sustained in June last year.

Geelong's Irish recruit Mark O'Connor has defended the role of Tadhg Kennelly in scouting the best young Gaelic football talent and offering them opportunities to play professionally in Australia.

There has been an ongoing, and heated, conversation in Ireland about the AFL and international talent scout Kennelly poaching young talented Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) players over the last few years.

The discussion reached a critical point last week when former GAA star Tomàs Ó Sé wrote an article in the Irish Independent newspaper expressing his concern about Kennelly and the AFL draining the country's talent pool.

O'Connor, 20, a junior star with County Kerry in Gaelic football, made his debut for the Cats against Essendon in round eight, just seven months after moving to Australia and having played just four VFL games in the lead up.

"The thing is back home no-one's been slighting me, they've only been supportive," O'Connor told AFL.com.au.

"The attitude toward Tadhg Kennelly and what he's actually doing is something I can't agree with. The opportunities that are provided for young players like myself out here are something that can't be passed up or frowned upon.

"The opportunities aren't the same back home as they are here, and for people back home in our own county to be slighting one of our own is not something that really sits well with me."

Mark O'Connor makes his AFL debut for Geelong at the MCG with 9 disposals (a kick and 8 handballs) and 2 tackles in a 17-point loss to Essendon.

Geelong confirms Mark O'Connor will play first AFL game this week after being upgraded to the Cats' senior list.

Zach Tuohy says he can be a mentor to fellow Irishman and Geelong teammate Mark O'Connor.

"I love the idea of having Irish guys at the club and the benefit I can give him is that I would have been through the same things he is about to go through," Tuohy said.

"I can just be a sounding board. He seems like a really mature guy already, but I'll certainly be there to help him in anyway I can."

Geelong signs two-time All-Ireland Minor medallist (best in the U18 championships) Mark O'Connor, 19, as a category B rookie.

"We were all very impressed by Mark on a personal level, and in what he displayed at the Draft Combine," Geelong list manager Stephen Wells said.

"The transition from Gaelic football to our game is never easy, but we know that Mark will do everything he can to make that switch a success.

"He has a great work ethic and a commitment to come to Geelong and do all the work necessary to become an AFL player."

Geelong has won the race to sign promising Irish teenager Mark O'Connor.

The Cats are believed to have beaten North Melbourne and Melbourne for the signature of the 19-year-old, a junior Gaelic football star with Kerry.

O'Connor, who underwent trials at five AFL clubs in September and also impressed at the recent NAB AFL Combine, confirmed on Irish radio that he had accepted a two-year international rookie contract with Geelong.

"Everyone wants to play with the best teams, and I've made the decision to go to Geelong," the athletic 189cm runner said.

"It's a very quiet place, like Dingle, and I was very comfortable there. I was really taken with Geelong, when I went in there – everyone was very friendly, and I felt at home there."

Three clubs are in the race to sign Irish prospect Mark O'Connor, who finished his stint in Australia with an excellent run at the NAB AFL Draft Combine.

Geelong, North Melbourne and Melbourne are understood to be keen to sign the 19-year-old, who travelled to Melbourne from Ireland for last weekend's combine at Etihad Stadium.

O'Connor trialed at five clubs (the three chasing his signature plus Essendon and Carlton) during his two-week stay, but has headed back to Ireland to make a decision on where he wants to start his AFL career. He can be signed as a category B rookie.

The 189cm youngster from County Kerry, who is considered one of the brightest prospects in Gaelic football, came fourth overall in the 3km time trial on Sunday with a time of 9:56 to close out his time at the combine before flying back to Ireland.

"I do want to pursue an AFL career. It's definitely something I want to do. It's hard work but it's just so rewarding," O'Connor said.

"At home it's all amateur sport and there's no professionals in the game at all. To be able to spend all of my time trying to improve my game is something that I'd like.

"I'll go back home and talk to my parents and talk things through and see what's on the table."