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Past Jesse O'Brien (2009-2013)

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Prior to the split round, coach Michael Voss voiced his willingness to wield the axe to find players who could drag the Lions out of their form slump and he has been true to his word, with draftee Jesse O'Brien set to make his debut against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

"He will definitely play, he has shown an aptitude for it and we are going to reward him with his debut," Voss said of O'Brien. "One of the best things about being a coach is getting to tell young blokes that their hard work has paid off and they will get a game. The look on their faces is one thing I will never forget."
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AFLQ stats

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The figures don't quite add up so make of that what you will.
 
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Voss said the former South Australian winger, drafted by the Lions with pick 73 in the 2009 NAB AFL National Draft, had earned his place through consistency in the reserves.

“His competitive instincts have been right up there,” Voss said.

“His work rate is great, he runs hard, he really does warrant his position in the team.”
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Voss

“He runs really hard and is more of a half-forward flank type player at this point in time. I think he’s got a pretty good understanding of the game. He doesn’t shirk an issue and puts his body on the line.”

“At this stage there is probably not a lot of him, but he covers the ground really well. He’s got reasonable skills and his competitive instincts have been right up there ever since he got here.”

“He showed glimpses early in the season that he had what it takes, but slowly over time he has shown that consistency required to do it week after week.”
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Rich - Voss
Redden - Black
Banfield - Akermanis
O'Brien - Lappin
Rockliff - Power


Who's with me?!?
 
O'Brien set for senior debut
9:08 AM Wed 30 June, 2010

The light framed O’Brien will more than likely feature as a wingman/half-forward flanker in the early stages of his career. North Adelaide Football Manager James Moore has seen O’Brien’s development first-hand having closely watched him play with the SANFL club last year.

“He is evasive and has a bit of flair about the way he plays,” Moore said.

“He’s got some x-factor about him.”

O’Brien becomes the second Lions player to make his senior debut this season after Todd Banfield played his first match back in Round 1 this season. He will also become the 38th player in Club history to run out in the number 34 guernsey most prominently worn by Fitzroy greats Grant Lawrie and Doug Searl.
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Round 14 Lineup

B: Joel Patfull (24), Daniel Merrett (21), Ashley McGrath (9)
HB: Travis Johnstone (4), Tom Collier (22), Sam Sheldon (3)
C: Justin Sherman (11), Daniel Rich (10), Tom Rockliff (38)
HF: Luke Power (6), Jared Brennan (17), Amon Buchanan (33)
F: Todd Banfield (18), Brent Staker (14), Aaron Cornelius (44)
Foll: Mitch Clark (1), Michael Rischitelli (35), Simon Black (20)
Int: Matthew Leuenberger (23), Jack Redden (30), James Polkinghorne (31), Jesse O’Brien (34)

Emerg: James Hawksley (12), Matt Austin (8), Andrew Raines (29)

IN: Ashley McGrath, Simon Black, James Polkinghorne, Jesse O’Brien

OUT: Brendan Fevola (Groin), Andrew Raines (Omitted), Troy Selwood (Omitted), James Hawksley (Omitted)

NEW: Jesse O’Brien - speedy wingman/half-forward.
Represented South Australia in the 2009 AFL U18 Championships.
2009 AFL Draft 5th Round Selection, No.73 overall.
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Good luck Windscreens:thumbsu:
 
Yeah, he had a tough time, but i feel for anyone playing in such a woeful team. He is only small, we all know that, so he got pushed around a little. But i thought his positioning around the ground seemed ok. Deserves to get a couple of games, have a taste of what it's like so he has a level to aim at for next year. I think it's good for young players to play at least 1 game at the top level, just so they can see where they are really at, and where they need to be.
 
He was very rushed and missed a few targets by hand. It was very evident that he was making a major adjustment in terms of the pace of the game.
 

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If O'Brien plays the next few weeks with the Saints, Hawks and Cats to come he is really going to learn a lot about AFL footy. I'd say give him 1 more game and then drop him so his confidence isn't completely shot after the Hawks and Cats games. He just needs a taste like Rockliff he can see the standard first hand that he has to get to to play at AFL level.
 
I do get disappointed by the fact that small/mid sized players miss targets by hand. But I think you are right Grim - it is a "pace of the game" thing with the young guys.

O'Brien went in when it was his turn. That's all you can ask of a first gamer. He's got a lot of development left to do but, equally, he's been thrust into senior footy probably 12 months before we would have expected him to.
 
Definitely struggled but as POBT said your expectations are minimal when it comes to first gamers. Thought he also struggled to adapt to our defensive zone at times, especially the speed of which we had to set up, and then when we went man on man.

I still like the look of him and think he will be a good player for us, it's little signs you look for when a first gamer plays, and I think there were some gems with 'old windscreens
 
Round 14 Answers

How will first gamer for the Lions, Jesse O’Brien play?

He seemed nervous, even before the game started. Did anyone see the footage of him bringing up water during the warm up? O’Brien didn’t have much of the ball and only had 8 disposals. He did lay 5 tackles for the Lions however, but also gave away 2 free kicks.

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2010 End of Season Review

Games - 1
Best and Fairest - 0 votes (=34th)
Dreamteam - 35 points; $89,500 ($-)
Supercoach - 45 points; $94,200 ($-)

AFLQ stats

Games - 15
Goals - 9
Best (top 6) - 5

Toe in the water

Jesse O’Brien was a surprised selection (no 73) in the national draft, with expectations he would be taken in the rookie draft. He was slightly built and known as an outside player with good skills on both sides who plays mainly on the wing. At only 71kgs he was not expected to play any senior football this year. But by midseason he was on the fringe of selection, which was more through consistency of performance rather than stand out games.

In round 13 he was named as an emergency and in 14 he made his debut against Carlton. He was seen throwing up in the warm up, evidence that he may have been suffering a few pre-game nerves. During the game he looked very rushed as he adapted to the much increased speed of senior football. He was easily out bodied and he made mistakes. It was not yet his time, and he was dropped back to reserves for the remainder of the year. After his first season, with all things considered, it would be fair to say his development is on track.

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For a late draft pick you wouldn't expect him to play good enough to be considered for senior selection. His form in the 2nds is a pretty good sign i think. One who might come on quick with some solid pre seasons.
 

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Shanghai Diary: Jesse O'Brien
11:18 AM Thu 14 Oct, 2010

I have personally been really looking forward to the Club's trip to Shanghai mainly because I have never travelled outside of Australia before.

One other thing you have to get used to quickly is the fact that the Shanghai road traffic does not give way to pedestrians. Even if you get a green man to walk across the street, you have to keep your eye out for for cars and mopeds that disregard the signs.
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