Nathan O'Driscoll explained

Nathan O'Driscoll
Fullname:Nathan O'Driscoll
Nickname:Drizzy
Birth Date:17 May 2002
Originalteam:Perth (WAFL)
Draftpick:No. 27, 2020 national draft
Debutdate:Round 2 2022
Debutstadium:Optus Stadium
Height:188 cm
Weight:82 kg
Position:Midfielder
Guernsey:30
Years1:2021–
Games Goals1:23 (11)
Statsend:round 23, 2024
Careerhighlights:

Nathan O'Driscoll (born 17 May 2002) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

AFL career

O'Driscoll was drafted with Fremantle's second selection, the 27th overall, in the 2020 national draft.[1]

2022: Debut Season

After not playing any AFL games in 2021, he made his AFL debut as the medical substitute for Fremantle in round 2 of the 2022 AFL season against St Kilda. He entered the game in the final quarter after Sean Darcy injured his ankle[2] and kicked a spectacular goal with his first kick from near the boundary line.[3] He received his first Goal of the Year nomination in round 8 against the North Melbourne Kangaroos with an incredible set shot drop punt from the left pocket.[4] O'Driscoll was sidelined prior to round 9 due to a stress fracture in his foot.[5]

Nathan returned to the line-up for Fremantle in the round 21 clash against the Western Bulldogs. O'Driscoll earned the defining moment of the game in which he received the ball just outside of centre square before outpacing Western Bulldogs vice captain Jack MacCrae and kicking a goal from the 50-metre arc.[6] He finished the game having earnt his second Goal of the Year nomination. O'Driscoll received a 2022 AFL Rising Star nomination for his performance in round 23 against at Manuka Oval in Canberra. He finished with 2 goals, 17 disposals, five inside 50s, five clearances and four tackles in the 20 point win.[7]

Personal life

O'Driscoll grew up in Northam, Western Australia.

His older sister, Emma O'Driscoll also plays for Fremantle in the AFLW.[8] His younger brother, Aiden O'Driscoll, was drafted to the for the 2024 AFL season but medically retired on 14 May 2024 without playing a game after suffering a head injury during the preseason.[9] [10]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2023[11]

|-| 2022 || || 30| 12 || 10 || 6 || 103 || 75 || 178 || 42 || 19 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 8.6 || 6.3 || 14.8 || 3.5 || 1.6|-| 2023 || || 30| 10 || 1 || 2 || 92 || 43 || 135 || 43 || 20 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 9.2 || 4.3 || 13.5 || 4.3 || 2.0|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 22 !! 11 !! 8 !! 195 !! 118 !! 313 !! 85 !! 39 !! 0.5 !! 0.4 !! 8.9 !! 5.4 !! 14.2 !! 3.9 !! 1.8|}

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: AFL Draft 2020: Nathan O’Driscoll excited to be part of new Fremantle Dockers generations. The West Australian. 9 December 2020. Mitchell. Woodcock.
  2. News: Huge blow for Freo as Darcy suffers ankle injury . 28 March 2022 . PerthNow . 27 March 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: From All Angles - O'Driscoll's moment . fremantlefc.com.au . 28 March 2022 . en.
  4. News: GOTY: Vote O'Driscoll!. 13 August 2022. fremantlefc.com.au. en.
  5. News: TABTouch Squad: Walters and O'Driscoll out, seven in the mix. 13 August 2022. fremantlefc.com.au. en.
  6. News: The O'Driscoll factor. 6 August 2022. en.
  7. News: Rising Star gets Drizzy. 23 August 2022. fremantlefc.com.au. en.
  8. News: Freo 'like a family' for O'Driscolls. 13 August 2022. fremantlefc.com.au. en.
  9. News: O'Donoghue . Craig . Aiden O'Driscoll joins Western Bulldogs at AFL draft to join brother Nathan and sister Emma at highest level. 4 January 2024 . The West Australian. 21 November 2023.
  10. Web site: O’Driscoll medically retires from football . Western Bulldogs . 14 May 2024 . 14 May 2024.
  11. Web site: Nathan O'Driscoll. AFL Tables. 26 May 2022. }