Since joining Geelong as a Category B signing in 2016, Mark O’Connor has continually developed year-on-year into one of the team’s most consistent performers.
This year he has already done a brilliant job shutting down some of the game’s best small forwards and he is set to play an influential role during finals.
Former Geelong star and current Assistant Coach Matthew Scarlett has worked closely with O’Connor over the years and the Irishman credit’s Scarlett’s simple approach with his improvement to date.
“Scarlo has been huge,” O’Connor said.
“The way he goes about it really suits me as he keeps it simple.
“He will just focus on two or three key areas in a game which really suits me because in the past I have been guilty of overthinking and trying to do everything when obviously it is not the right way to go about it.
“He has been really good in that sense of just simplifying the game for me, just narrowing down to two or three focus areas which gives me a bit of freedom when I go out, to just focus on a few things and do them well.”
When reflecting on his 47-game career to date, O’Connor is appreciative of the opportunity he was provided early in his career. Those early games gave him a lot of confidence and the belief that he could make it at AFL level.
Ongoing feedback has been a big part of that development process and O’Connor spends time each week with Scarlett, who helps him find ways to improve his craft.
“He always does our edits with us and he is always very positive, but he will slip in the side note of your improvement areas and again he just keeps those very simple, and we can just go out and work on them, so it is all very simple with Scarlo which really suits me.”
This season O’Connor hasn’t missed a beat for the Cats. He has featured in all 17 games and is ranked inside the top five at Geelong for spoils, defensive half pressure acts and intercept possessions.
This week he will face another big challenge against Port Adelaide in the first qualifying final on Thursday night.
