O'Connell (23), in his first season as Taieri captain, impressed with his leadership skills and his ability to lead from the front.
He was able to break the line with the ball in hand, was an aggressive tackler and had the vision to link up with his backline.
O'Connell used his strength to break through the defence to put his team into try-scoring positions, and he was also effective in the lineout.
O'Connell made a big contribution to Taieri's rise up the ladder in premier rugby and helped the team to finish fifth in the 10-team competition.
He made his first-class debut off the bench for Otago against Counties-Manukau last year and is a member of this year's Otago squad.
Points were allocated each Saturday by club rugby reporters from the Otago Daily Times and Radio Sport.
O'Connell won with 25 points and was followed by Marshall Suckling (Pirates) 19, Paul Grant (University A) 18, Brad Cameron (University A) 18, Will Henry (Dunedin) 17, Chris Bell (Zingari-Richmond) 16, Warren Kearney (Pirates) 16, Warren Moffat (Southern) 15, George Folau (Harbour) 15, Luke Reihana (Alhambra-Union) 14, Paula Kinikinilau (Alhambra-Union) 13.
Tom Davie (Taieri) used his lightning speed to score 12 tries and was equal top try-scorer with Kinikinilau.
They were followed by Folau 11, Suckling 11, Peter Breen (Alhambra-Union) 9, Greg Zampach (Southern) 9, Ben Pereira (Alhambra-Union) 8, Chris O'Neill (Green Island) 8, Matt Faddes (University A) 8, David Thompson (University A) 8 and Hoani Matenga (University A) 8.
Reihana topped the individual scoring with 156 points and was followed by Lewis Hancock (Southern) 128, Chris Noakes (University A) 121, Cam Rutherford (Kaikorai) 113, Glenn Dickson (Pirates) 113 and Craig Sneddon (Harbour) 110.
Also acknowledged last night was Erik Vaafusuaga (Taieri), who has retired after playing a record 269 premier games - 221 for Taieri and 48 for Green Island - between 1989 and 2010.
Billy Laing (Dunedin) is next with 242 games.
Pirates prop Daniel Johnson reached the milestone of 150 premier games and Frankie Elisara (Green Island), Chris Bell (Zingari-Richmond) and Rebecca Chittock (Southern) reached 100 games.
University A coach John Leslie was named club personality of the year and Ross Barnett was named referee of the year.
Speight's, a supporter of Otago rugby, has pledged another $10,000 to support club rugby next year.
