New Cat Oisin Mullin turns heads in start at Geelong

He is only just getting used to the oval ball but Oisin Mullin has shown impressive skills in his short time with Geelong.

Oisin Mullin has impressed Geelong coaches early with his kicking. Picture: Alan Barber

New Cat Oisin Mullin is “certainly ready” to make an impact in his first season in Australia after his kicking has already impressed Geelong coaches.

The Irishman pledged to spend time studying countryman Zach Tuohy’s kicking style on his arrival in Geelong, hoping to replicate Tuohy’s penetrating and accurate delivery.

Oisin Mullin fires off a handball. Picture: Alan Barber

Mullin debuted a simple technique at his first training session earlier in the month and has shown little sign of trouble adapting to the Sherrin so far.

The 22-year-old projects as a dashing defender and Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said Mullin had arrived “certainly ready”.

“He has come into the club and he is an infectious personality, he has high speed and high run and he is a daring-type player,” Lloyd said at Geelong’s AGM.

“Already the coaches are talking about his ability to kick the football and they can almost see how good he is technically but he is going to be very good for us.”

Mullin appeared at home in his early days as a Cat this month, after declining to join the club last year.

Oisin Mullin has had to work to get a feel for the oval ball. Picture: Alan Barber

He stayed home with Geelong’s blessing and Lloyd said “if somebody is not quite ready at certain points of time, we don’t want to force it”.

“Throughout the season we kept touching base with him at different times and I think the thing that persuaded him was watching his two compatriots (Tuohy and Mark O’Connor) with a medal around their necks (after winning the grand final),” Lloyd said.

Mullin was due to return home to Ireland for Christmas to spend time with his family and pack up his things ahead of the permanent move to Australia.

He will be joined back for pre-season by O’Connor, who took an elongated break in Ireland and is due to return to Geelong in the new year.

Originally published as New Cat Oisin Mullin turns heads in start at Geelong