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Aiden O’Driscoll on the concussion which crushed his footy dream
Aiden O’Driscoll was living his football dream. Then in a matter of seconds, it was ripped away. Jay Clark details the harrowing moments after a pre-season incident which changed O’Driscoll’s life forever.
Aiden O’Driscoll’s last memory of playing footy is his goal.
Then nothing.
Last January, the former Western Bulldogs’ dashing wingman slotted a brilliant snap from a clean pick-up in the second term of a practice match, and had earned rave review from senior teammates for his speed over summer.
“I played on ‘JJ’ (Jason Johannisen) one day and I was thinking ‘gee I am playing a on a Norm Smith here medallist how good is this’, and afterwards they were just saying to me, ‘Wow you are effing fast’,” O’Driscoll said.
“I was feeling great, really fit and healthy and I was learning all the game plan stuff.”
But his next footy memory is waking up inside an ambulance.
In a hit which Bulldogs teammates have described as the worst collision they have seen or heard, O’Driscoll was knocked out after crashing into Bailey Williams at top speed.
The devastating hit was O’Driscoll’s first concussion and his last moment in a competitive scratch match on a football field.
Scans showed up to seven micro-bleeds on his brain from one devastating blow to his ear region.
“Bailey’s shoulder or his head hit me in the temple,” he said.
“It hit me in the soft spot where Phillip Hughes (was killed by a cricket ball).
“So that is scary to think about it as it is. I might have got lucky.
“And it bruised up. I fractured a little bone around my ear. I woke up in the ambulance and I was thinking what happened, why am I here?”
In an instant, O’Driscoll’s football career was over only two months after he was drafted No. 55 in 2023 as a zippy wingman and forward from Western Australia.
He continued to train in the rehabilitation group at The Kennel for a short period, but the AFL’s independent concussion panel said he should never play contact sport again.
Brain injury is the biggest issue in the game, and in the background, the league is fighting separate class actions in the courts which could cost the AFL up to $1 billion over claims of historical negligence.
Rules have been changed to provide players’ heads more protection in bumps and tackles, while O’Driscoll was one of four players last year to be medically retired due to head hits.
But whereas players such as Paddy McCartin, Angus Brayshaw, Paul Seedsman, Nathan Murphy and Jeremy McGovern received multiple head knocks, O’Driscoll suffered only one brutal blow.
“It seems very unfair because it was my first ever concussion,” he said.
“I bawled my eyes out afterwards.
“I said ‘why me’, and ‘why does this have to happen?’ I was in complete tears.
“I have had a couple of meltdowns, so mum knows the toll it has had on me. She always checks in on me, how am I going?
“But it has been hard and it drains me some days.”
He consulted other specialists for a second and third opinion, and briefly harboured genuine hopes of a football comeback, but his compensation claim will ramp up when O’Driscoll is officially removed from the Bulldogs’ list at season’s end.
If he is successful as expected, O’Driscoll could receive up to about $600,000 as part of a payout for the career-ending injury.
While O’Driscoll says he remains eternally grateful for his family and friends’ enormous support including girlfriend Claudia who “has been my rock”, life has not been easy for the 20-year-old, whose sporting dream was taken away in one freakish accident.
Aiden O'Driscoll with his partner Claudia, who has been his “rock”.
He remains positive about what the future holds, including a potential career in the police force or fire brigade, but watching footy games also provides some of the biggest challenges.
“It is a tough one to swallow because of the mental health side of things, to be honest,” he said.
“That has been a big factor. I have been struggling with that a lot, at times.
“Football is massive everywhere you go and I don’t even really go out with mates anymore to have a few beers or anything like that, even though I would not do it much anyway.
“Even if I did, the constant question is ‘What’s the go?’. Are you trying to get back? Come pull on the boots and play local footy’.
Stuff like that is really hard for me.
“It’s honestly to the point where I can no longer really go out or hang out and have a good time because the constant reminder kicks in.”
And it is close to home.
O’Driscoll’s brother, Nathan, plays for Fremantle, so while the family is continually cheering for the Dockers, Aiden’s dreams have been crushed.
“I don’t watch as much as I used to. I still watch the Doggies and my brother. But it’s different now because I can’t go and strap on my boots,” he said.
“I have got so much of my life ahead of me, so I’m grateful my health is coming first but I was like ‘surely I can play footy again at any level?’.
“Especially being only 20 years old. It’s been a very tough pill to swallow.
“At the same time, I would rather be safe than sorry and the doctors advised me to never play contact sport again.”
So O’Driscoll has begun some athletics training in the hope of shining on the running track.
But he continues to have some trouble with lactic acid which he had never experienced before the hit, and the feeling of wanting to vomit when he trains at high intensity.
O’Driscoll has begun a concussion rehabilitation program after completing some tests on his eye movements and balance.
“There were a couple of things that weren’t where it should be, so I have some things to do as part of some rehab stuff that can help fix some long-term cognitive impairments,” he said.
“I didn’t even realise I was doing it. A twitch. My balance is not where it should be.”
But the former Dog is grateful things aren’t worse, and is now helping others as a personal trainer and footy coach.
“Perspective is important and a lot of people go through way worse things,” he said.
“I’m lucky to be as healthy and as fit as I am. I’m active and alive.
“I wish it could have been different that day, but I have my whole life ahead of me.
“But what helped me I guess overcome what you could call forms of depression and what not is just keeping busy, staying in contact with friends and family and staying as active as I can.
“Helping others stay fit and healthy is my passion now.”
Aiden O’Driscoll was living his football dream. Then in a matter of seconds, it was ripped away. Jay Clark details the harrowing moments after a pre-season incident which changed O’Driscoll’s life forever.
Aiden O’Driscoll’s last memory of playing footy is his goal.
Then nothing.
Last January, the former Western Bulldogs’ dashing wingman slotted a brilliant snap from a clean pick-up in the second term of a practice match, and had earned rave review from senior teammates for his speed over summer.
“I played on ‘JJ’ (Jason Johannisen) one day and I was thinking ‘gee I am playing a on a Norm Smith here medallist how good is this’, and afterwards they were just saying to me, ‘Wow you are effing fast’,” O’Driscoll said.
“I was feeling great, really fit and healthy and I was learning all the game plan stuff.”
But his next footy memory is waking up inside an ambulance.
In a hit which Bulldogs teammates have described as the worst collision they have seen or heard, O’Driscoll was knocked out after crashing into Bailey Williams at top speed.
The devastating hit was O’Driscoll’s first concussion and his last moment in a competitive scratch match on a football field.
Scans showed up to seven micro-bleeds on his brain from one devastating blow to his ear region.
“Bailey’s shoulder or his head hit me in the temple,” he said.
“It hit me in the soft spot where Phillip Hughes (was killed by a cricket ball).
“So that is scary to think about it as it is. I might have got lucky.
“And it bruised up. I fractured a little bone around my ear. I woke up in the ambulance and I was thinking what happened, why am I here?”
In an instant, O’Driscoll’s football career was over only two months after he was drafted No. 55 in 2023 as a zippy wingman and forward from Western Australia.
He continued to train in the rehabilitation group at The Kennel for a short period, but the AFL’s independent concussion panel said he should never play contact sport again.
Brain injury is the biggest issue in the game, and in the background, the league is fighting separate class actions in the courts which could cost the AFL up to $1 billion over claims of historical negligence.
Rules have been changed to provide players’ heads more protection in bumps and tackles, while O’Driscoll was one of four players last year to be medically retired due to head hits.
But whereas players such as Paddy McCartin, Angus Brayshaw, Paul Seedsman, Nathan Murphy and Jeremy McGovern received multiple head knocks, O’Driscoll suffered only one brutal blow.
“It seems very unfair because it was my first ever concussion,” he said.
“I bawled my eyes out afterwards.
“I said ‘why me’, and ‘why does this have to happen?’ I was in complete tears.
“I have had a couple of meltdowns, so mum knows the toll it has had on me. She always checks in on me, how am I going?
“But it has been hard and it drains me some days.”
He consulted other specialists for a second and third opinion, and briefly harboured genuine hopes of a football comeback, but his compensation claim will ramp up when O’Driscoll is officially removed from the Bulldogs’ list at season’s end.
If he is successful as expected, O’Driscoll could receive up to about $600,000 as part of a payout for the career-ending injury.
While O’Driscoll says he remains eternally grateful for his family and friends’ enormous support including girlfriend Claudia who “has been my rock”, life has not been easy for the 20-year-old, whose sporting dream was taken away in one freakish accident.
Aiden O'Driscoll with his partner Claudia, who has been his “rock”.
He remains positive about what the future holds, including a potential career in the police force or fire brigade, but watching footy games also provides some of the biggest challenges.
“It is a tough one to swallow because of the mental health side of things, to be honest,” he said.
“That has been a big factor. I have been struggling with that a lot, at times.
“Football is massive everywhere you go and I don’t even really go out with mates anymore to have a few beers or anything like that, even though I would not do it much anyway.
“Even if I did, the constant question is ‘What’s the go?’. Are you trying to get back? Come pull on the boots and play local footy’.
Stuff like that is really hard for me.
“It’s honestly to the point where I can no longer really go out or hang out and have a good time because the constant reminder kicks in.”
And it is close to home.
O’Driscoll’s brother, Nathan, plays for Fremantle, so while the family is continually cheering for the Dockers, Aiden’s dreams have been crushed.
“I don’t watch as much as I used to. I still watch the Doggies and my brother. But it’s different now because I can’t go and strap on my boots,” he said.
“I have got so much of my life ahead of me, so I’m grateful my health is coming first but I was like ‘surely I can play footy again at any level?’.
“Especially being only 20 years old. It’s been a very tough pill to swallow.
“At the same time, I would rather be safe than sorry and the doctors advised me to never play contact sport again.”
So O’Driscoll has begun some athletics training in the hope of shining on the running track.
But he continues to have some trouble with lactic acid which he had never experienced before the hit, and the feeling of wanting to vomit when he trains at high intensity.
O’Driscoll has begun a concussion rehabilitation program after completing some tests on his eye movements and balance.
“There were a couple of things that weren’t where it should be, so I have some things to do as part of some rehab stuff that can help fix some long-term cognitive impairments,” he said.
“I didn’t even realise I was doing it. A twitch. My balance is not where it should be.”
But the former Dog is grateful things aren’t worse, and is now helping others as a personal trainer and footy coach.
“Perspective is important and a lot of people go through way worse things,” he said.
“I’m lucky to be as healthy and as fit as I am. I’m active and alive.
“I wish it could have been different that day, but I have my whole life ahead of me.
“But what helped me I guess overcome what you could call forms of depression and what not is just keeping busy, staying in contact with friends and family and staying as active as I can.
“Helping others stay fit and healthy is my passion now.”
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