Geelong defender Connor O’Sullivan has continued to emerge in the Cats’ back six

The Cats were patient with Connor O’Sullivan during his maiden season, but the emerging Geelong defender hit a high on Friday night only once bettered at the Cattery in 25 years.

Young Geelong defender Connor O’Sullivan kept his Demons opponents goalless on Friday night. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

To the eye of shrewd Cats observers, teenage defender Connor O’Sullivan appears to be getting better each and every week.

And the numbers also point towards a rapid adjustment to the level, with the 19-year-old setting a new benchmark on Friday night very rarely seen at Kardinia Park for rookie Cats over the past 25 years.

A few weeks before Round 1, Cats assistant coach James Kelly was asked by the press pack outside GHMBA Stadium which young, periphery players were set to take a big step in 2025.

Kelly was quick to nominate midfielder Mitch Knevitt – currently sidelined with a foot injury – and Albury product O’Connor, who had made his debut against North Melbourne in Round 5 last year.

It was an arguably inauspicious start in a game quickly forgotten with the Cats smashing the Roos by more than 12 goals, and O’Sullivan wouldn’t be sighted at the level again that season.

However, nearly 12 months on, and with Jed Bews and Jake Kolodjashnij sidelined with injury, O’Connor has grabbed his chance to cement a spot in the team down back.

In the past three games he’s grabbed a Rising Star nomination from his performance against the Saints in a losing cause; kept Eric Hipwood to just one goal at the Gabba and was amongst the best players against Melbourne on Friday night.

Connor O’Sullivan kept his Brisbane opponent in Eric Hipwood to just one goal. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

Manning Bayley Fritsch, Jacob van Rooyen and Daniel Turner at different stages, none of that trio recorded a goal during that time — O’Sullivan also received five coaches votes.

On Friday night, O’Sullivan dropped a relatively easy mark in the second term but worked hard to smother a kick inside 50 from Kade Chandler moments later.

Over the past three matches, O’Sullivan has averaged eight intercept and contested possessions and just one turnover.

However, he will now face arguably his toughest test yet, the three-pronged attack of Adelaide in enemy territory on Thursday.

Post-match on Friday night, senior mentor Chris Scott said O’Sullivan had the capacity to become a genuine key defender, praising his ability to read the play.

With O’Sullivan picking up 23 touches against the Demons, the 19-year-old had backed up the early intel from Cats recruiters he was a high possession winner during his junior days.

Scott said O’Sullivan had put on some size, and remained a terrific runner, but he was most impressed with his defensive craft.

“He is such a good runner, we don’t want to blunt those strengths,” Scott said.

“He’s a brilliant athlete to watch in pre-season being so tall, and such a good runner and he’s starting to look stronger.

O’Sullivan marks in front of his Melbourne opponent. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“The thing that is appealing to me the most is, is his craft, he positioned really well, it’s sometimes hard being under that high ball but it looked like he intercepted and made it as difficult for the Melbourne forwards as any of our backs.”

O’Sullivan is one of three players brought into the club back in November, 2023 via the national draft that has since rejuvenated the team, including Shaun Mannagh (pick 36) from Werribee and the agile and ambidextrous defender Lawson Humphries from Western Australia (63).

Meanwhile, big bodied midfielder George Stevens, at pick 58, has been performing strongly in the VFL so far this year, averaging 29 touches and five tackles a game.

While the impact of Humphries and Mannagh was a consistent headline in 2024 as the Cats surged from a mid-season slump into a preliminary final, it’s now O’Sullivan turning heads at the Cattery, playing with the kind of assuredness that underlined Humphries’ early games.

And the numbers show as much after four fixtures.

According to Champion Data, O’Connor is the 13th youngest player to record more than 20 possessions and 10 marks and collect four intercept marks in a game.

And only one Geelong player, Sam De Koning, has recorded more than four intercept marks with less than five games’ experience, since 1999.

O'Sullivan gets a handball free while tackled by Kysaiah Pickett. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

On Monday, defensive midfielder Tom Atkins said both O’Sullivan and Humphries had been “amazing” from that draft crop.

In a similar vein to coach Scott, who told supporters at the Carji Greeves Medal last year he took zero responsibility for Humphries’ development, Atkins praised the pair’s dedication to improvement.

“We can’t take any credit, it’s all been his and Lawson’s hard work, they’re always in here doing touch, working on their game,” Atkins aid.

“George Stevens has been playing well in the VFL as well.

“(O’Sullivan’s) very handy, when those young players go well, it really lifts the team, we’re lucky to have Connor.”

Atkins also said Mannagh – who had a strong return to the field to earn four coaches votes – had taken to the level quickly.

“I forget about Shaun, he’s a mature and it kind of feels like he’s been part of the team for ever now,” he said.

“Having him back on the weekend gives us an extra punch around the ball, and he’s very clean and good with his use as well, loved having him back.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do this year.”

Originally published as Geelong defender Connor O’Sullivan has continued to emerge in the Cats’ back six