Pre-Season Training Gallery - December 12 | Mark O'Connor

O'Connor on his All-Ireland Triumph

It feels great, it has been my best off-season yet. I am happy to come back to a bit of sun and back to training. 

It has meant the world to everyone back home, the celebrations have been phenomenal as well.

Just to see the club represented in Croke Park, to have the town paint Dublin red and white was pretty special.

To have the blend of Australians there as well and Geelong people, was a special moment too. 

05:04

Mark O'Connor Press Conference | All-Ireland Final Victory

Mark O'Connor spoke to the media after his return from Ireland where he helped his hometown team Dingle secure their maiden All-Ireland Final win! Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

O'Connor on the support of his family and friends

It was crazy, it was like two of my world's colliding.

Seeing 'Blitz' [Mark Blicavs] and Jack [Henry] up next to my parents, to see Cam [Guthrie] and Paddy [Dangerfield] after was crazy. Zach and Bec [Tuohy] were over there as well, so it was great.

It was great for them to experience it, they have been there before over in Dingle, so they probably knew a little bit more of what it meant and what it means to the people there.

But to see them up there next to my family was a bit of a full circle moment. It had been 11 years since I played in Croke Park, a lot has happened in the mean time.

So to see the blend of Geelong and Dingle there was a special moment for me. 

O'Connor on playing at Croke Park

It was unreal actually.

Because we are such a small population, I wasn't expecting so many people to be there. A lot of neutrals bought into it, a lot of people got attached to the storylines that were involved and some of our players, because there is some incredible stories in the build up to the game.

Croke Park just has this special feel, it is full of rich history both sporting and non-sporting. Anytime you get to go there it is a special occasion, but especially when it is with your club.

The atmosphere is always electric, you can always feel a bit of the history when you are in Croke Park, no matter how many people are there.

I think there was 25,000 there on the day, but whether it is 25,000 or 82,000, it is always a special occasion. 

01:17

The Players React To Mark O'Connor's All-Ireland Victory

The watchparty was in full voice as some of the players got together to watch Mark O'Connor and Dingle play in the All-Ireland Final.

O'Connor on returning to AFL pre-season

I feel great, I feel fresh. I might not sound like it right now, I just flew in yesterday but I am seriously looking forward to the season ahead.

I couldn't have left home in a better state, so I think I will find it pretty easy to get motivated and get going again. 

My body feels great, I feel fit and I am still in competition mode which is great.

The body is definitely capable and having achieved what we achieved at home, I feel super motivated to come back and give this season a full crack.