Ryan O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Ryan O'Connor is a former Australian rules football
player. He is best known for playing for the Essendon Bombers and Sydney Swans
in the Australian Football League
, however finished his career in the SANFL with the Port Adelaide Magpies
where he won the Magarey Medal
.
O'Connor, from Ulverstone, Tasmania
began his career at the Essendon reserves after being traded by Geelong in the 1991 AFL Draft
for ruckman John Barnes
. Even as a young man, O'Connor was known for his massive size (191 cm, 110 kg), considered large even for an AFL player. Despite his bulk and struggle with weight problems, the big man was surprisingly agile and could take strong contested marks.
O'Connor's best year was 1995. He became a centre half forward and strung together a number of impressive games, kicking bags of goals.
1995 put Ryan O'Connor on the map. He stepped up to become an important forward who took the rucking duties in the front half.
In 1997 O'Connor was involved in a car accident which had an effect on his form. He was delisted by the Bombers.
The Sydney Swans picked up O'Connor and used him at centre half forward and centre half back. After a few reasonable seasons, the power forward was delisted at the end of 2000.
The Port Adelaide Magpies
picked up O'Connor, where he starred, winning the Magarey Medal
in 2001, alongside former St Kilda player Tony Brown
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player. He is best known for playing for the Essendon Bombers and Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, however finished his career in the SANFL with the Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
where he won the Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
.
O'Connor, from Ulverstone, Tasmania
Ulverstone, Tasmania
Ulverstone is a town on the northwest coast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Leven River, on Bass Strait. It is on the Bass Highway, west of Devonport and east of Penguin....
began his career at the Essendon reserves after being traded by Geelong in the 1991 AFL Draft
1991 AFL Draft
- History :When the competition was known as the Victorian Football League , the league introduced the first incarnation of a draft system in 1981, where teams had two selections each of interstate players determined by reverse finishing position order...
for ruckman John Barnes
John Barnes (Australian rules footballer)
John Barnes is a retired Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Playing career:Barnes' VFL/AFL career included two State of Origin games for Victoria.-Early career – from Essendon to Geelong:...
. Even as a young man, O'Connor was known for his massive size (191 cm, 110 kg), considered large even for an AFL player. Despite his bulk and struggle with weight problems, the big man was surprisingly agile and could take strong contested marks.
O'Connor's best year was 1995. He became a centre half forward and strung together a number of impressive games, kicking bags of goals.
1995 put Ryan O'Connor on the map. He stepped up to become an important forward who took the rucking duties in the front half.
In 1997 O'Connor was involved in a car accident which had an effect on his form. He was delisted by the Bombers.
The Sydney Swans picked up O'Connor and used him at centre half forward and centre half back. After a few reasonable seasons, the power forward was delisted at the end of 2000.
The Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
picked up O'Connor, where he starred, winning the Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
in 2001, alongside former St Kilda player Tony Brown
Tony Brown (Australian rules footballer)
Tony Brown is an Australian rules footballer who has played in the AFL and the SANFL.Recruited from Geelong Falcons, Brown made his AFL debut in 1995 with the St Kilda Football Club...
.