- Aiden O’Driscoll’s AFL dream ended after sickening collision
- He admits that it broke his heart to be advised not to play again
- He says he collided heads with a teammate and woke up in an ambulance
Former Western Bulldogs recruit Aiden O’Driscoll has spoken about being forced to medically retire from the AFL without playing a single game after suffering a horrific concussion during training.
The 55th overall pick, who recorded the fastest 20-metre sprint time at the 2023 draft combine, has been advised by the AFL’s independent concussion panel to retire from contact sports after a sickening collision with teammate Bailey Williams left him unconscious for ten minutes.
The talented 18-year-old is the younger brother of Fremantle AFL and AFLW players Nathan and Emma O’Driscoll.
“It’s amazing how one stroke can affect the rest of your life,” he said. 7News.
‘It was just a normal training day, we were just starting to get more into game simulation… Bailey Williams and I butted heads, that’s what they told me, I didn’t remember any of it.
“It was a really hard blow, it hit me behind the ear and knocked me out. I woke up in the ambulance 10 minutes later and thought, ‘How the hell did I get here?'”
O’Driscoll, who spent two days in hospital, had no idea the collision would end his football career.
“I was just hoping for the best outcome, not the worst. I thought maybe the worst case scenario wouldn’t happen for the rest of the year,” he said.
Aiden O’Driscoll (pictured) has opened up about being forced to retire from the AFL without playing a game after suffering a concussion in training.
O’Driscoll (centre) is pictured with his soccer star siblings Nathan and Emma, who both play for the Fremantle Dockers.
‘Once I got through (the round table), everything was fine, but when I found out the final result, I thought: ‘What?’ I didn’t expect it, I didn’t realise I was going to have to withdraw.
“When I walked out of there, I completely fell in love with my mom. She was probably the best person to be there that day. It was 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 on the brain… it’s overwhelming.
“I explained it at the boys’ meeting and I was paralyzed. I lost my dream. It was over in six months and, to be honest, it was too soon. I was immediately disheartened.”
The teenager says he had no idea the collision would end his football career.
O’Driscoll’s sudden retirement comes amid a cloud hanging over the playing future of Bulldogs stalwart Tom Liberatore.
The Bulldogs vice-captain was sidelined earlier this season after two separate concussions.