MAKING A MAPK

O'Connor's going for an AFL Premiership double with five Irish still in mix for top prize

- BY KARL O’KANE

IT'S crunch time for the 12 Irish players in the AFL with Kerry's Mark O'Connor potentially just three victories away from history.

Of those 12 former GAA players, five are regular starters and are still in contention to win the Premiership title.

They are Geelong's O'Connor and Oisin Mullin (Mayo), Great Western Sydney's Callum Brown (Derry), Hawthorn’s Conor Nash (Meath) and Mark Keane (Cork) of Adelaide.

O'Connor (28) is the only one who has won a Premiership

The Dingle man landed the biggest prize in Australian Rules back in 2022, lining out alongside Zach Tuohy as they became just the second and third Irish men to go all the way after Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly in 2005.

But no Irish player has ever won two Premiership titles.

O'Connor has once again been a regular this year for Geelong, as has double young footballer of the year (2020/21), Mullin.

Geelong finished second in the ladder and are the 13/5 favourites to win the Premiership title with Brisbane (10/3), Adelaide (7/2), Collingwood (11/2) and Hawthorn (13/1).

Keane is the name on everyone’ lips with 2025 a breakout season for the 25 year old.

Adelaide finished top of the ladder and qualified for the finals, winning 18 out of 23 group games, the most in the clubs history.

Keane’ was recently named in the provisional 44 man ‘All-Australian’ squad — effectively the AFLs All Stars.