Geelong defender Mark O’Connor reveals club love keeps him in Australia
Premiership Cat Mark O’Connor battled for motivation at times in 2022 but Geelong’s willingness to help the defender has helped keep him in the AFL.
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A much-needed, lengthy trip home will help Mark O’Connor’s “long-term happiness” after rediscovering his passion for footy.
In the weeks after Geelong’s premiership triumph, O’Connor was open in admitting he struggled at points in 2022 to buy into the intensity of the AFL as his mind wandered to what he was missing at home in Ireland.
The defender snapped up a premiership medal in September and flew back home not long after, playing his native Gaelic game in front of a contingent of Cats teammates.
O’Connor said he likely wouldn’t have stuck with AFL if it wasn’t for the willingness of Geelong to allow him to return home and play locally even if he missed the early stages of pre-season.
“(Playing) is just something I feel in terms of my long-term happiness out here that I really want to tick off when I can,” he said.
“That in a way is proactively sorting the home sickness stuff so it is one less itch I have to scratch.
“And obviously the added bonus of having the 14 or 15 other players come over and watch, that was pretty funny and they had quite the experience.
“Obviously things happen when you are away and you feel a bit helpless at times when issues arise but if you can be proactive in the things you can control, it is something you can chip away at.
“When I did get home I also had some extended time at home which was awesome and it’s not something I take for granted that the club just does for me because I have mates on other teams and obviously they do certain things but it’s not like it is here.
“I’m not sure I would still be out here in Australia if it wasn’t for the way Geelong handled everything with me.”
O’Connor said last year he found himself “thinking about everything else other than footy” but after his break he would be able to focus on the game this season without distractions.
The dependable Cat began questioning the value of sport during last season.
“Last year, I just didn’t have the mental tools to overcome what was going on and in terms of the motivation stuff, I just needed those mental skills to turn it around and I feel far better having experienced it,” he said.
A star athlete back in Ireland, O’Connor deliberately mapped out his move to the AFL based on where he could win a premiership.
But having knocked over that ultimate goal, he is only hungrier to do it again to involve more friends and family in the experience.
“The fact that it is kind of in the back pocket now, there is a certain ease that comes with that because if you haven’t won one then you can have those doubts,” he said.
“It is a small bit of relief in a sense that ‘all right that one is done’ and we can go on to the next one and at least at the end of my career, I will still have this one.
“There is a bit of a relief factor but other than that, I don’t think my life has changed too much.”
O’Connor backs Cats depth in to lead back-to-back push
Geelong defender Mark O’Connor is expecting the club’s increased depth to be “good for that motivation and the hunger” as the Cats eye back-to-back flags.
The Irishman said there were “about 30 players” on the Geelong list that deserve to play each week after the Cats added the likes of Jack Bowes, Tanner Bruhn, Ollie Henry and Jhye Clark to a list that sauntered to the 2022 premiership.
Having returned for 2023 with arguably a stronger squad than last year, the Cats are expecting the fight to make the team each week to push away any complacency or hangover.
“We have about 30 players who can play high-level footy which is always a great sign and it is always good for that motivation and the hunger,” O’Connor said.
“When that drive is coming from inside the club it is always a good thing for performance. I am sure throughout the year the players will get rotated and get their chance to be rested without the fear of the team dropping off too much.”
O’Connor and his fellow defenders will be charged with curbing a new-look Collingwood attack during Friday night’s blockbuster, with Dan McStay and Bobby Hill added to the side that fell just short of last year’s grand final.
Geelong is hoping for a record crowd in excess of 90,000 to launch the season and O’Connor said he was excited to dive into the year in front of a monster crowd.
“Obviously being round 1, there is always a lot of hype regardless but obviously being Collingwood and the games we have had against them in the past, it does make it a bit more exciting,” he said.
“The closer to a full MCG the better I think.”
Fans heading to the game from Geelong will have an easier road back home after the match with V/Line to run extra services from Southern Cross Station back to Geelong post-match on Friday night.
Originally published as Geelong defender Mark O’Connor reveals club love keeps him in Australia
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