Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Michael O'Connell

Known as
Michael O'Connell

Born
17 January 1962 (age 61)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 25y 85d
Last game: 26y 187d

Height and weight
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 86 kg

Senior clubs
West Coast

Jumper numbers
West Coast: 22

Family links
John O'Connell (Father)David O'Connell (Brother)

Michael O'Connell

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
West CoastV/AFL1987-198820130.6550%7.703.253.751
Total1987-198820130.6550%7.703.253.751

AFL: 9,818th player to appear, 6,581st most games played, 4,539th most goals kickedWest Coast: 24th player to appear, 178th most games played, 132nd most goals kicked

Brother of David and son of John, Michael O’Connell was a hard working, versatile footballer who overcame the setback of a broken leg during his debut season to play with distinction for two clubs. Between 1982 and 1988 he played 92 WAFL games and registered 38 goals for Claremont. In 1987 he was an inaugural West Coast squad member and over the course of that season and the next played 20 games and kicked 13 goals for the fledgling VFL club.

O’Connell produced some fine performances during this comparatively brief stint in the nation’s premier competition, including booting a match-winning tally of five goals against Geelong at Kardinia Park in the opening round of the 1988 season.

Although their times on West Coast’s list overlapped, David and Michael O’Connell never played in the same Eagles side.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.