Delisted Sydney defender Barry O'Connor is set to give his professional football career "another crack", signing on with GWS' VFL side for the 2023 season.
O'Connor was one of five Swans cut from the club at the conclusion of last season, with Sam Naismith, Lewis Taylor, Ben Ronke and James Bell also not offered new deals for this season.
The Irishman's stint with Sydney came to an end after three years in New South Wales, having first joined John Longmire's squad as a Category B Rookie midway through 2019.
The 193cm backman's time in the AFL was cruelly hindered by the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic, stunting his development after making the move from Ireland.
After returning home late last year, O'Connor has decided to continue his pursuit of playing in the top flight, returning down under and joining the Giants' reserves for the 2023 season.
“I wanted to give it another crack and the GIANTS just seemed like the perfect fit,” O'Connor said in a club statement.
“I haven't been here long but everyone from the playing group to the staff have been so welcoming, so it's been great and I'm loving it.”
O'Connor will link up with some familiar faces in joining the Giants' VFL squad, with former Sydney assistants Jeremy Laidler, Tadhg Kennelly and Lloyd Perris having recently made the move across town from the Swans.
having worked under both Perris and Laidler closely, as well as sharing the Irish link with Kennelly, O'Connor says he feels at home in the orange and charcoal.
“Lloyd Perris and Jeremy Laidler were my development coaches when I arrived at the Swans, and obviously Tadhg was my Irish connection at the club so to have all three of them here now is great,” he said.
“It's fantastic to see some familiar faces and it's made the transition a lot easier.”
Round 1 of the 2023 VFL fixture was revealed this week, with GWS to face Essendon in Tullamarine on Sunday, March 26 to begin their new campaign.
