It is just one of the many skills the towering 19-year-old possesses but perhaps not the main reason the Steel has secured her services.
The 1.93m shooter impressed for South during the National League and has inked a one-year deal. It is understood her new job will involve a ball but not a ball of fluff.
"I definitely didn’t expect it," O’Connell said when asked how she felt about her promotion to the top team.
"I’m absolutely thrilled. I can’t wait. It’s definitely been a dream since I was a little girl."
O’Connell will join Jamaican international Jhaniele Fowler-Reid in the circle and is looking forward to learning from the star shooter.
"I have so much that I want to learn from her and it’s really exciting to have the opportunity to tap into her experience," she said.
"I want to keep developing and just being in the Steel environment with quality team-mates and coaches will play a huge part in that."
Last month the former Waitaki Girls’ High School pupil was invited to trial for the Silver Ferns, mainly for the "absolutely unreal" experience.
But it was also an indication the national selectors rate the youngster highly.
Eventually, O’Connell would like to move from national triallist to national representative.
But that is a long-term goal and her immediate focus is on making the final cut for the New Zealand under-21 team, which will contest the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana next year.
The Steel was not the only team interested in signing O’Connell. But the first-year Dunedin College of Education student did not want to stray too far.
"I don’t really want to go away. I’m a bit of a home girl and love being on the farm — it’s my special place to be," she said.
O’Connell was raised on the family farm (near Clinton) which is pretty much right on the border. She goes to sleep in Otago but collects the mail in Southland.
There is no question where her loyalties lie, though.
"I’m definitely an Otago kind of girl."
By the way, never ask a farmer’s daughter what other duties they do around the farm.
"I’m off to pluck some dead sheep at the moment," she responded with a giggle.
What?
"Pluck some dead sheep. I actually sell the wool. It is not really everyone’s cup of tea.
"You get them before they get a bit gross."
You get the feeling top-level netball is going to a breeze for O’Connell.
