Oisin Mullin on AFL signings: ‘Everyone has their opinion on it that they like to share’
MAYO MOMENT: Geelong's Oisin Mullin wheels away after his early goal in the AFL Grand Final against eventual winners, the Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground Pic: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
The two specific clubs that Kobe McDonald and Ben Murphy have joined in the AFL will ensure they are well placed to make a successful transition, according to current Geelong star Oisín Mullin.
It was confirmed this week that Mayo’s McDonald and Kerry’s Murphy will join St Kilda and Brisbane, respectively.
Speaking on the Mullin said that having Irish players already on those teams’ lists will be an enormous benefit for the young prospects.
“For Kobe’s case there, he is going to St Kilda,” said Mullin.
“His transition is quite different. Most lads go over in November time or so. It seems like he will sit his Leaving Cert and then go over midway through the season. That would be unusual to most clubs but St Kilda did it last year with Eamonn Armstrong.”
Armstrong, who played for Meath in the U20 Leinster final this year, made the move to Melbourne last July after completing his Leaving Cert.
“That assurance that the club has the experience, brought lads over recently and helping with that transition. For Eamonn to have gone done the same path Kobe will go, that will be a massive boost for him.
“Ben with Brisbane who also have dealt with players transitioning over directly with James Madden starting there as a first-year player and now the experience of Darragh Joyce, who first joined St Kilda. Conor (McKenna) was obviously with Essendon before as well. They have experience with different clubs.
“There is a sense of home with the Irish lads there and the Irish girls. When I went to Geelong, Zach was unbelievable and Mark, but Rachel Kearns from Mayo too.”
Two-time Young Footballer of the Year Mullin has been with Geelong since late 2022. The club initially announced his signing in 2021 before he reversed the decision. A year later, he officially made the move.
As a result, the Kilmaine clubman had to deal with the announcement frenzy twice.
“Reflecting back now, it can be a bit overwhelming,” he said.
“Everyone finds out and wants to send you well wishes, you are trying to get back to everyone but you get bombarded with messages.
“At the same time, everyone has their opinion on it that they like to share, it is blocking out that external noise and surrounding yourself with family and friends. The ones you actually care about. Otherwise, it could be quite overwhelming.
"Especially as both of those lads are so young. I was 22 so a bit older.”
After an outstanding individual campaign, Mullin kicked his first goal on the way to the Grand Final.
What a time for Oisin Mullin to kick his first AFL goal! pic.twitter.com/SxjpOKAelS
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 5, 2025
“The first goal was more of a shock than a celebration. I didn’t know what was going on. I was laughing, at the last second I was wondering, 'Did it go in or not?' There was shock on my face when the umpire marked it as a goal.
“It had started becoming a joke in the club at that point so it was more a celebration that I wasn’t going to get slagged for missing another one.
"It was good fun when all the lads got around me after and seeing Mark O’Connor’s face in the highlights after made it even better.”
The 25-year-old is home for the off-season and has met with Mayo manager Andy Moran, who he played with during his first year on the senior squad, but his long-term future remains Down Under.
He recently signed a new two-year contract, extending his stay with the Victorian outfit until at least the end of 2027.
“Eventually. Post-career, I see myself moving back. My partner Jess, we have been together nine years and she is Irish as well. We have family and that is a massive pull factor. But for the near future, it is in Geelong.
"I have signed on for two more years. I feel like it is a career I will try to stretch out for as long as I can because I have been loving it. Post-career, I see Ireland as where I will be living.”
The full interview is available on the Gaelic football podcast for Irish Examiner subscribers.
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