John O'Connell (footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = John
lastname = O'Connell




birthdate = 22 April 1951
birthplace =
originalteam =
heightweight = 183 cm / 82 kg
dead =
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 3, 1970
debutteam = Carlton
debutopponent = Richmond
debutstadium = the MCG
playingteams = Carlton (1970-76)
* 111 games, 0 goals
coach =
coachingteams =
statsend = 1976
careerhighlights =

John O'Connell (born 22 April 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the VFL during the 1970s.

O'Connell made his way into the Carlton side after playing underage football for the club. Although originally a centreman and ruck-rover, he was used as a defender when joined the seniors in 1970. He played most of his games in the back pocket and was a long kick of the ball. O'Connell was a member of Carlton's 1972 premiership team and also played in the side which lost the Grand Final the following season. In the 1973 decider he had been a replacement for the ill Barry Armstrong and was given the role of tagging Richmond star Ian Stewart.

References

*AflRleague|ref=J/John_OConnell1.html
* [http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=John+O'Connell Blueseum Biography: John O'Connell]
*Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). "The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers". 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.