Oisin Mullin had a busy debut for Geelong.
Sean McGoldrick
FORMER Mayo All Star Oisin Mullin has made his Australian Football League debut just months after switching codes and linking up with 2022 Premiership winners Geelong.
But it wasn’t a fairy tale start for the 2020 All Star as Geelong crashed to their third successive defeat and their fifth loss this season.
Mullin joined Laois’ Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor from Kerry in the Geelong line-up and the 23-year-old was warmly applauded by the home fans when he got his first disposal away.
The defending champions were hosting the Great Western Sydney Giants (GWS Giants), who had ex-Derry footballer Callum Brown in their side.
At one stage all four Irishmen were on the field but it was Brown who was celebrating at the end as the GWS Giants posted a shock 81 (12-9) to 74 (1-14) win over the Cats.
Mullin more than held his own though. Before the second quarter was over he had double-digit disposals – he finished with 15, the same as the experienced Tuohy and one more than O’Connor. Brown had 11 disposals (or possessions).
The ex-Mayo star also scored one behind and acquired a black eye.
Geelong’s defence of their title has been badly hit by injuries – which probably explains why Mullin was rushed into first-team action so soon.
After 11 of the 17 preliminary rounds, they are ninth in the table. The top eight teams qualify for the play-off stages of the championship.