Mark O’Connor is set to play his 100th game on Thursday night against Port Adelaide, becoming just the sixth Irishman in AFL history to reach the milestone.
O’Connor joined the Cats during the 2016 draft as an International Rookie, moving over from County Kerry in Ireland after developing into a budding superstar in Gaelic football.
The first two years with Geelong were focused on development for O’Connor, playing just seven games across the 2017 and 2018 seasons before finding consistency in the Cats team in 2019.
O’Connor has played over 20-games in three of the past four seasons, while also being one of just eight Cats to feature in all 12-games so far in 2023.
Cameron Ling and Meg McDonald commented on the milestone on this week’s episode of the ‘To the Final Bell’, podcast.
"Mark O'Connor to play game number 100, fantastic achievement,” Ling said.
“It is a huge thing to move across to move all the way across the other side of the world and play one game of AFL footy.
“Mark is now at game number 100 and a really valuable member of the team, it's fantastic."
O’Connor featured in Geelong’s 2022 Premiership team, joining fellow countryman Zach Tuohy as just the second and third Irishmen in AFL history to become premiership players.
After spending time as a tagging midfielder and wingman throughout the early part of his career, O’Connor has eventually settled into a more traditional role in Geelong’s backline.
McDonald and Ling touched on his journey into the AFL and the hard work Mark has done to cement his place in the side.
"I probably didn't realise until I spoke to a few people, Mark had taken a little while. He did his time in the VFL, now he has established himself and he's a premiership player,” McDonald said.
"There were times when he was in and out of the team,” Ling added.
“Was he going to be a midfield tagger, does that work or no maybe not quite. Is he going to be a defender?
“Just finding his spot, he's also been in leadership teams and he's a great person.”
Tyson Stengle will also play his 50th AFL game against Port Adelaide, another fantastic achievement further adding to his incredible story.
