Toast Merrick O'Connor 50 games

[cats_09]

Back in 2016, this Irish lad attended the International Combine, where he showed his athletic traits at the 2016 NAB AFL Draft Combine, running a 9.56 3km. The 189 centimetre prospect was sought after, with three AFL clubs chasing his signature - Geelong prevailed and signed O’Connor as a Category B Rookie.

In 2017 he was elevated to the senior list where he played 2 games in his first year, another 5 games in his 2nd year, then locked in a spot in the misfits back six in his 3rd season before being elevated to the leadership group at the start of the 2020 season

When the team runs out for tonights preliminary final, Merrick will run out in game #50 in the hoops, and unless home sickness sets in he looks set to play many more in the guernsey


1st win:




2020 Player spotlight following our win over St Kilda

 

[nohairandfair]

Love the way this guy goes about it. Talented, humble and committed. Inspired recruiting from the club.

 

[dazbroncos]

The club has done very well identifying talent and good eggs from non footy backgrounds.

Merrick is another great example of it.

Credit to him and the club - but mostly him for getting this far and becoming what many thought was not possible.

A best 22 GFC player

Go Catters

 

[Down at K Park]

Who would have thought he would become best 22 so quickly. Looked nowhere near worthy of selection so soon. They threw him in the deep end. But he swam, not sunk. Remarkable.

 

[thecatattack]

From Gaelic footy and no AFL background to best 22 in a side competing for flags at 23.

Amazing story.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

I remember the talk when this bloke was looking to play AFL that he was the most talented youngster coming out of Ireland for many years.
A HUGE loss for Gaelic football but a massive get for the GFC.
Bloke is a star.

 

[Landgraft]

Gaelic highlights video that was posted around the time he was originally recruited. What a great get he's been.

 

[cats_09]

 

[BORIS332]

Love this bloke. Been a fan since his debut. Congrats to him, hope he gets a win tonight.

 

[Tony Barber]

Well I made the silly comment very early that he'd be our best rookie ever.
Blicavs is making that look impossible.

But I still stand by my comment that he loves traffic and will end up a mid.
But to be honest, I would have said the same about Enright.

Sometimes you can't rob Peter to pay Paul.

 

[crocsta]

Amazing get for cats! Expect he may one day challenge Stynes as the greatest player from Ireland. He is on track for a few AA selections over the next 7 years. He has the highest ceiling of any player on our list

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[frggr]

Back in 2016, this Irish lad attended the International Combine, where he showed his athletic traits at the 2016 NAB AFL Draft Combine, running a 9.56 3km. The 189 centimetre prospect was sought after, with three AFL clubs chasing his signature - Geelong prevailed and signed O’Connor as a Category B Rookie.

In 2017 he was elevated to the senior list where he played 2 games in his first year, another 5 games in his 2nd year, then locked in a spot in the misfits back six in his 3rd season before being elevated to the leadership group at the start of the 2020 season

When the team runs out for tonights preliminary final, Merrick will run out in game #50 in the hoops, and unless home sickness sets in he looks set to play many more in the guernsey


1st win:




2020 Player spotlight following our win over St Kilda

Crosspost this to the "I WAS WRONG" thread, but I never thought I'd see him make 50 games, let alone in such emphatic style.

Thanks for sticking it right up me, Sharkie!

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

For those of you scratching your heads and thinking "Merrick? Who the hell is Merrick? Isn't his name Mark?" go ahead and blame Tom Lonergan

Tom Lonergan

Age

39

Ht

197cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.6

4star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.8

4star

MG

167.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.8

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

0.4

3star

!!

Snap shot: Cash cow Cunnington keeps copping fines

North Melbourne's Ben Cunnington is daring the tribunal, where Mark O'Connor got his nickname, and when the Eagles flew into town.

www.theage.com.au

April 30, 2019

Nice to meet you, 'Merrick'

The Irish-born defender Mark O'Connor

42

Mark O'connor

Age

27

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

8.1

3star

HB

5.1

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.3

4star

MG

174.8

3star

D

12.4

3star

K

8.9

4star

HB

3.5

2star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.6

3star

MG

199.8

3star

D

10.4

3star

K

4.8

2star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.4

1star

played his best game for the Cats on Sunday when he won every contest in defence to earn coaches votes for the first time.

His left-foot pass late in the game after he had taken a bounce earned a wry smile from the coach Chris Scott

Chris Scott

Age

47

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.4

3star

who admitted the 22-year-old continually surprises the coaching staff with what he can do given he had not played the game before he arrived in October 2016.

What still makes people laugh is how he earned his nickname Merrick, which goes back to when Geelong's premiership defender Tom Lonergan

Tom Lonergan

Age

39

Ht

197cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.6

4star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.8

4star

MG

167.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.8

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

0.4

3star

introduced himself to the new players one pre-season.

Not always the closest follower of player movement Lonergan was not exactly all over the names of the recruits as he later referred to Mark as Merrick when he began talking about the new arrivals to other people around the club.

As soon as Lonergan's teammates realised the Irish accent had the man from Yarrawonga under the impression O'Connor's name was Merrick rather than Mark they couldn't hide their delight labelling the talented Irishman with the nickname.

 

[cats_09]

There's also this from a few years ago...

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Mark O’Connor

Nickname: Merrick

AFL Club supported as a kid: Geelong

Childhood hero: David Johnson

David Johnson

Age

42

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.7

4star

T

1.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.0

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

I am a little curious about a couple of those answers, or maybe he is a long term Geelong supporter

Get to know: Mark O'Connor

Get to know the Cats' newest debutant Mark O'Connor

www.geelongcats.com.au

 

[Spearman]

Back in 2016, this Irish lad attended the International Combine, where he showed his athletic traits at the 2016 NAB AFL Draft Combine, running a 9.56 3km. The 189 centimetre prospect was sought after, with three AFL clubs chasing his signature - Geelong prevailed and signed O’Connor as a Category B Rookie.

In 2017 he was elevated to the senior list where he played 2 games in his first year, another 5 games in his 2nd year, then locked in a spot in the misfits back six in his 3rd season before being elevated to the leadership group at the start of the 2020 season

When the team runs out for tonights preliminary final, Merrick will run out in game #50 in the hoops, and unless home sickness sets in he looks set to play many more in the guernsey


1st win:




2020 Player spotlight following our win over St Kilda

double like for not using 'Shark' in title

having watched a bit of Gaelic footy early in the AM, I am bullish on some of the Irish boys. Not surprised how his instincts are coming through, never in doubt. Like his aggressiveness defending his mates, as well.

 

[Spearman]

thought this should be forever enshrined here
Merrick doing some eavesdropping in the PF

 

[CatToTheFuture]

thought this should be forever enshrined here
Merrick doing some eavesdropping in the PF
View attachment 992261

"That's alright boys let him listen, he doesn't speak English anyway" - Brissy leadership group probably

 

[Will_I_Am]

Loved this moment so much hahah, almost in tears laughing

 

[Larry Donohue]

Absolutely love this kid.
Great hands, swift mover, good user of the ball.
Hope he stays with gfc for another decade