Marty Clarke: Mark O'Connor's status within AFL 'definitely underappreciated'

Just last month, Kerry boss Jack O'Connor said that his former minor star 'would have been another Brian Fenton' if he'd stayed at home and that 'Kerry would have won more All-Irelands, no question in my mind'.

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026 - 07:17

Paul Keane

Former Aussie Rules player Marty Clarke reckons Mark O'Connor's status in the AFL is 'definitely underappreciated' by people here.

But Down great Clarke, who played 73 times for Collingwood, said the reality is that O'Connor is just as important to Geelong in the AFL.

Last year's Grand Finalists released the 28-year-old to compete for Dingle in the provincial and All-Ireland series, which wraps up with Sunday's Croke Park final.

"Mark O'Connor is absolutely so important to one of the best teams in the AFL, who have been consistently at the top level," said Clarke, speaking at the launch of the 24th series of TG4's Laochra Gael, in which he features.

"The AFL is structured in such a way where you can't really stay at the top for too long, with the draft and the salary cap. But Geelong have defied it every year and Mark comfortably plays in their best team.

"He's in their leadership group. He's a very important role player for them. It's definitely underestimated how good he is over there.

"He plays with authority, he's hard at it. He's sometimes sent out to tag a man or man-mark opposition key players. He's just willing to do whatever it takes for the team. He's got a great skillset as well and has played well over 100 games.

"His head coach is a guy called Chris Scott, who would be well renowned as being the top coach in the AFL. He always speaks so highly of Mark. You can't get a bigger compliment in the game than that."

Rob Monahan, Cillian Burke and Ben Murphy are three more Kerry men contracted to AFL clubs for 2026. Kerry manager Jack also said that AFL clubs should be forced to financially compensate GAA clubs when they recruit these players.

"From my experience in my own club, in 2007, when I went across to Melbourne, there were seven or eight of that club team somewhere in Australia working in different things," said Clarke. "My opportunity was in sport, and I went there. So in terms of going away for work, most clubs have maybe seven, eight boys, girls going across to Australia, Canada, wherever it is.

"This is just another opportunity of that kind, and that's the way I see it."

Clarke's life story will air on Thursday, February 12 on TG4. The father of three is currently coaching Down under Conor Laverty. The pair played together in the 2010 All-Ireland final loss to Cork.

"It definitely gets harder every year, the fact that you were so close to winning one," said Clarke.