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4 months ago
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Former Western Bulldogs draftee Aiden O'Driscoll has spoken about being forced to medically retire from the AFL without playing a single game after suffering a horror concussion in training.
The No. 55 pick, who recorded the fastest 20m sprint time at the 2023 draft combine, was advised to quit contact sports by the AFL's independent concussion panel after a sickening collision with teammate Bailey Williams that 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 hit can impact the rest of your life,' he told 7News.
'It was just a normal training day, we were starting to get further into match sim ... me and Bailey Williams just clashed heads, this is what I got told, I didn't remember any of this.
'It was a massive hit, hit me behind the ear and it just knocked me out cold. Woke up in the ambulance 10 minutes later thinking 'how the hell did I get here'.'
O'Driscoll, who spent two days in hospital, had no idea that the collision would end up finishing his footy career.
'I was just expecting the best result and not expecting the worst. I was thinking maybe worst case is out of 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 single game after a concussion in training
O'Driscoll (centre) is pictured with his footy star siblings Nathan and Emma, who both play for the Fremantle Dockers
'Once I got through (the panel discussion), it was OK, but then when I found out the result at the end, I was like 'what?' This was not expected, I didn't realise it was going to be a retirement.
'Once I got out of there, I just completely lost it to Mum. She was probably the best person to be there on that day. One of the worst days I can imagine, finding out that news.
'I just thought it was a pretty severe injury, but seeing the results, the microhemorrhages on the brain. It's just all so overwhelming.
'I explained it in the meeting in boys and I just went numb. I've lost my dream. It's over within six months and all too soon to be honest. Just heartbroken straight away.'
The teenager says he had no idea the collision would end up finishing his footy career
O'Driscoll's sudden retirement comes amid a cloud over the playing future of Bulldogs stalwart Tom Liberatore.
The Bulldogs vice-captain was sidelined earlier this season after two separate concussions.
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