Reilly O'Brien explained

Reilly O'Brien
Fullname:Reilly O'Brien
Birth Date:20 August 1995
Originalteam:Calder Cannons (TAC Cup)
Draftpick:No. 9, 2014 rookie draft
Debutdate:Round 20, 2016
Debutstadium:Adelaide Oval
Height:202cm
Weight:102 kg
Position:Ruck
Guernsey:43
Years1:2015–
Games Goals1:102 (13)
Statsend:round 2, 2024
Careerhighlights:

Reilly O'Brien (born 20 August 1995) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

O'Brien participated in the Auskick programs at Flemington Primary School in Flemington, Victoria and at Moonee Valley Football Club.[1] He played his junior representative football with the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup.

He grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Ascot Vale[2]

O'Brien was drafted by the Adelaide Football Club with their first selection and ninth overall in the 2014 rookie draft.[3]

AFL career

Reilly O'Brien made his debut in the 138-point win against the in round 20, 2016 at the Adelaide Oval.[4] He didn't play much football between 2016 and 2019, but broke into the side after Sam Jacobs sustained an injury.[5] Jacobs was traded to at the end of the 2019 AFL season, leaving O'Brien as Adelaide's primary ruckman going into the 2020 AFL season.

A stand-out in Adelaide's least successful season in their history, O'Brien thrived under his new role, winning the Malcolm Blight Medal in just his first season as the primary ruck. His fantastic form was rewarded with a contract extension to keep him at Adelaide until 2025.[6] In 2023, with Riley Thilthorpe as his back-up ruckman, O'Brien lead the competition for hit-outs.[7]

Personal life

Outside of football O’Brien has completed a medical science degree at Flinders University. He has since undertaken post graduate study, both in business administration and public health through Torrens University.[8] He has also completed postgraduate study in neuroscience through King’s College.[9]

O’Brien graduated from high school with an ATAR of 99.75.[10]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to round 21, 2024[11]

|- | 2015 || || 43| 0 || — || — || — ||-||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—|- | 2016 || || 43| 2 || 1 || 2 || 9 || 19 || 28 || 4 || 6 || 47 || 0.5 || 1.0 || 4.5 || 9.5 || 14.0 || 2.0 || 3.0 || 23.5 || 0|- | 2017 || || 43| 0 || — || — || — ||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—|- | 2018 || || 43| 0 || — || — || — ||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—|-| 2019 || || 43| 18 || 2 || 4 || 126 || 150 || 276 || 60 || 77 || 597 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 7.0 || 8.3 || 15.3 || 3.3 || 4.3 || 33.2 || 3|- | 2020 || || 43| 17 || 0 || 3 || 107 || 125 || 232 || 64 || 68 || 462 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 6.3 || 7.3 || 13.6 || 3.8 || 4.0 || 27.2 || 4|- | 2021 || || 43| 20 || 2 || 0 || 138 || 156 || 294 || 71 || 55 || 585 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 6.9 || 7.8 || 14.7 || 3.6 || 2.8 || 29.3 || 5|-| 2022 || || 43| 20 || 3 || 2 || 124 || 141 || 265 || 53 || 79 || 738 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 6.2 || 7.1 || 13.3 || 2.7 || 4.0 || 36.9 || 2|- | 2023 || || 43| 23 || 4 || 4 || 117 || 169 || 286 || 66 || 72 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 888 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 5.1 || 7.3 || 12.4 || 2.9 || 3.1 || 38.8 || 3|-| 2024 || || 43| 18 || 2 || 2 || 117 || 97 || 214 || 41 || 72 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 761 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 6.5 || 5.4 || 11.9 || 2.3 || 4.0 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 42.3 || TBC|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 118 !! 14 !! 17 !! 738 !! 857 !! 1595 !! 359 !! 429 !! 4078 !! 0.1 !! 0.1 !! 6.6 !! 7.3 !! 13.5 !! 3.0 !! 3.6 !! 34.6 !! 17|}

Notes

Notes and References

  1. AFL Record. Round 1, 2022. pg 52
  2. Web site: Calder Cannons Mark Kovacevic and Reilly O'Brien break the stereotypes about ruckmen . www.heraldsun.com.au . 2023-09-13 .
  3. News: Calder Cannons tall Reilly O'Brien and winger Roarke Smith join AFL ranks through rookie draft. Michell. Tim. 3 December 2014. Moonee Valley Leader. News Corp Australia. 6 August 2016.
  4. News: Battle of beginners looms in ruck as Adelaide's Reilly O'Brien takes on Brisbane's Archie Smith. Fjeldstad. Jesper. 5 August 2016. The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. 6 August 2016.
  5. Web site: Team: Crows ruckman Reilly O'Brien named to replace Sam Jacobs. 3 April 2019. Adelaide Football Club.
  6. Web site: Crows lock in best and fairest winner on long-term deal. AFL. Staff writer. 11 March 2021.
  7. Web site: Zero Hanger. MOST HIT OUTS 2023 AFL STATISTICS. 8 March 2024.
  8. Web site: How one Sports Management Student went from Internship to Dream Job at the Penrith Panthers . 2023-06-06 . www.torrens.edu.au . en.
  9. Web site: 2023-07-28 . Hidden talents: Crows giant could be smartest man in footy . 2023-09-11 . afl.com.au . en.
  10. Web site: 2016-08-04 . Five things about Reilly O'Brien . 2023-06-06 . afc.com.au . en.
  11. Web site: Reilly O'Brien. AFL Tables. 6 August 2024.