Retired Western Bulldogs teenager Aiden O'Driscoll opens up about crushing end to his AFL career

EXCLUSIVE

Retired Western Bulldogs teenager Aiden O'Driscoll has opened up about the devastation of seeing his AFL dream end.

O'Driscoll was medically retired in May after suffering a foul concussion during training in January.

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Selected in November as the group's top athlete, the 18-year-old's AFL career was over within six months.

Referred to the league's concussion panel after a series of tests following the training incident, O'Driscoll joined Melbourne flag hero Angus Brayshaw and Collingwood championship defender Nathan Murphy in being medically retired.

Speaking to 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, O'Driscoll said he had struggled to come to terms with the devastating news.

“To be honest, the first couple of weeks after that it hit me pretty hard,” he told 7NEWS.

“I didn’t sleep much, it really hit me. I had the best support around me, with my friends, family and all the staff at the club, it was just unreal. But it was very tough, I’m not going to lie. I also had my girlfriend (Claudia) by my side every step of the way, which helped me a lot.”

O'Driscoll clashed with team-mate Bailey Williams during a training session in January.

Incredibly, it was his first concussion.

“It's amazing how much one blow can impact the rest of your life,” he said.

“It was just a normal training day, we were starting to get more involved in the match simulation… Bailey Williams and I just went at each other, that’s what I was told, I didn’t remember any of that.

“It was a massive blow, it hit me behind the ear and knocked me out. I woke up in the ambulance 10 minutes later wondering 'how the hell did I get here?'”

O'Driscoll spent two days in hospital and was limited to light duties upon his return to training.

He underwent extensive testing before the roundtable but did not expect to be told he would never play AFL again.

“I just expected the best possible result, not the worst. I thought the worst would be maybe for the rest of the year,” he said.

“Once I finished (the panel discussion) it was fine, but when I found out the result at the end I was like, 'What?' I didn't expect it, I didn't know I was going to retire.

“Once I got out of there, I completely lost control of my mother. She was probably the best person to be there that day. One of the worst days I can imagine, hearing that news.

“I thought it was a pretty serious injury, but seeing the results, the microbleeds in the brain, it's so upsetting.

“I explained it at the meeting with the boys and I was speechless. I lost my dream. It’s over in six months and it’s too soon to be honest. I was heartbroken straight away.

After the initial devastation, O'Driscoll is already seeing the positive side.

He has accepted a job at the Bulldogs academy and is keen to explore a career in athletics and one day run in the Stawell Gift.

“It’s negative, but we can easily turn it into something positive and continue living happily.”

O'Driscoll's older siblings Nathan and Emma both play for Fremantle in the AFL and AFLW respectively, and Aiden added that family support has been invaluable.

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