Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
John O'Connell

Known as
John O'Connell

Born
22 April 1951

Died
5 November 1989 (aged 38)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 361d
Last game: 25y 149d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 82 kg

Senior clubs
Carlton

Jumper numbers
Carlton: 50, 19

John O'Connell

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CarltonV/AFL1970-197611100.0066%8.012.462.050
Total1970-197611100.0066%8.012.462.050

AFL: 8,243rd player to appear, 2,125th most games played, 12,389th most goals kickedCarlton: 818th player to appear, 150th most games played, 1,170th most goals kicked

John ‘Jack’ O’Connell was one of the lesser lights at Carlton during a memorable era for the club, but he was nevertheless an important and valued player. Between 1971 and 1976 he played 111 VFL games for the Blues, mainly as a permanent back pocket, but he could also function effectively as a tagger. A long kick, he teamed well with full back Geoff Southby to help make the Blues’ defence one of the best in the league not to mention one of the best in the history of the club. He was in his customary back pocket position for the 1972 grand final defeat of Richmond, while in the following year’s losing play-off against the same opponent he tagged the great Ian Stewart, to limited effect. He had actually been a late inclusion in the ‘73 flag decider, replacing Barry Armstrong who was ill.

In 1977 Jack O’Connell was cleared to WANFL club Subiaco but he only played five matches for the year. He later returned to Victoria and coached Diamond Creek to a premiership in the Diamond Valley Football League. He died at the distressingly young age of 38 after a two year battle with cancer.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article; http://www.blueseum.org/John+O%27Connell

Footnotes

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