The brilliant and rapid rise of Connor O'Sullivan continues to get better each and every day, with the emerging young defender finishing in the top five in the 2025 AFL Rising Star award. 

After playing just one game at the top level during his inaugural season with Geelong, O'Sullivan started in the Cats AFL team in Round 1 this year and never looked back, going on to play 24 of a possible 25 games. 

He wasted no time making an impression and gaining external recognition, with O'Sullivan earning his Rising Star nomination in the Round 2 clash with St Kilda collecting 15 disposals and nine intercept possessions. 

O'Sullivan continued to go from strength to strength each week, finishing in the top three at Geelong for intercept marks, contested marks, spoils and intercept possessions across the course of the 2025 season. 

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Connor O'Sullivan of the Cats signs a guernsey during a Geelong Cats Training Session at GMHBA Stadium on September 22, 2025 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Continuing that strong form into the post-season, the young star played an influential role in both of Geelong Finals victories, particularly in the Preliminary Final after Tom Stewart was ruled out of the game early. 

It will culminate in Saturday afternoon when O'Sullivan, in just the 26th game of his AFL career, will feature on the biggest stage of all in the Grand Final against Brisbane. 

O'Sullivan's journey at Geelong started at the end of 2023, when the Albury product was drafted by the Cats with pick 11 in the National Draft. 

He spent most of his debut season plying his trade in the VFL, but made his AFL debut early in the year against North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium. 

A big pre-season put O'Sullivan firmly in the selection window and he grasped his opportunity with both hands, becoming a staple of Geelong's defensive unit right away.