Liam O'Connell Biography

Liam O'Connell makes his AFL debut for St Kilda at Adelaide Oval with 7 disposals (4 kicks and 3 handballs), 3 marks and 2 tackles in a 63-point loss to Adelaide.

Irish Saint Liam O'Connell will make his AFL debut in St Kilda's 2025 season opener against Adelaide.

"I feel coming in from overseas you are trying to make up years of development, so I think all those little gains are so important to me to close the gap to other guys who have been playing footy their whole lives," O'Connell said.

Irishman Liam O'Connell signs with the Saints as a Category B rookie.

O'Connell, 20, lived in Western Australia for several years as a child before returning to Ireland aged 11. He joins the Saints after being scouted by the club in June and July as he starred in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

"He was just named Cork Young Footballer of the Year. He was a young boy that actually lived in Australia for about seven years. He lived in WA. His mother's an Australian girl, his father is an Irishman so they lived in WA for seven years," St Kilda list manager Stephen Silvagni said.

"He did play Aussie Rules, Auskick and some early junior football. He actually has already adapted to the footy."