East Belmont star batter Sean O’Neill to return this summer after a season off
One of the greatest run machines this region has produced has revealed why he missed last summer and will be back in action in season 2025-26.
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In an ominous sign for GCA1 first grade bowlers, a two-time Jack Sing medallist will be back this summer after taking last season off due to burgeoning business commitments.
East Belmont run machine Sean O’Neill told this masthead he decided to give season 24-25 a miss to get his East Geelong tax and business advisory service, ONBA, off the ground, with Geelong City cricketer and South Barwon footballer Jack Driver an employee.
The top order batter is seen as one of the GCA’s finest, and was revealed to be the most prolific over the past 10 seasons following a deep dive by this masthead.
He would compile five centuries in the 20-21 season, finishing the year with 966 runs at 69 — more than 330 runs than his nearest rival.
Winning the competition’s highest individual honour twice and making a century in the 23-24 drawn grand final against GCA powerhouse North Geelong, it would prove to be O’Neill’s final innings before a self-imposed hiatus.
He told his Lions teammates he wanted to get the business up and running by the middle of 2024 before committing to top level cricket again.
“I’d already told my boss that I was going to go out and start my own business,” O’Neill said on Monday.
“I just had no idea how much work I was going to have to do and I wanted to make sure I did it properly.
“I don’t think local cricket’s that taxing that I needed a mental refresher.”
He said mixing training and playing first grade cricket, while juggling a burgeoning business and fatherhood, was too much of a commitment, so something had to go.
“I didn’t want to sign up for everything so something had to give,” he said.
“At some point you need some downtime doing nothing.
“I always thought I’d play again, I just didn’t know when I suppose.”
With the business largely under control by Christmas, O’Neill realised he was enjoying not playing and didn’t see a reason to change things.
However, an unofficial role with Geelong’s Country Week team perhaps whet the appetite to some degree.
A keen golfer, O’Neill began to realise he missed the social aspect of cricket, especially those initial hours after a good win.
“It’s just not the same playing individual sports compared to playing team sports,” O’Neill said.
“It’s hard to describe ... the best beer of the week is that first beer after a footy win and cricket’s the same.
“That six to seven o’clock (period), there’s not a care in the world.
“There’s nothing like it, it’s hard to replicate ... it can’t be done.”
O’Neill told his Lions teammates a few months ago he was keen to pull on the creams in 25-26, would turn up where he was picked but wanted to play as high as possible, with pre-season set to begin next month.
“I’m pretty excited, even last season there were five or six new guys that rolled through the turf squad that I don’t really know,” he said.
“So I’m looking forward getting to know them.
“I’m pretty keen to just be involved again, it’s a bit weird sitting on the sidelines and not a part of it.
“A lot of my life friends are at the cricket club.
“And looking forward to competing again, which is probably the thing you miss the most.”
While back in the fold, and the Lions reportedly chasing a spinner, O’Neill will not be looking to take on any leadership or off-field positions.
“I want to be the last person knowing what’s going on,” he said with a laugh.
A former Thomson player, O’Neill intends to return to Godfrey St down the track once his division one days are done, but he wasn’t looking to play well into his 50s like ex-Tigers teammate Grant Dew who was a first grade premiership player in 24-25.
“I always say to them, I’ll play a season there eventually, but while I still think I can play div one cricket, I want to keep trying to have a crack at it,” he said.
“But at some point there will be a season or two back at Thomson, I don’t think I’ll be going at Dewy’s age.”
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