Off the back of a Malcolm Blight Medal win in 2020, Reilly O’Brien looked to make his mark again in 2021.
But an injury blow to the ruckman in Showdown 51 ended his season prematurely, opening the door for the Crows’ 2021 State League Club Champion, Kieran Strachan, to enter the side.
That, O’Brien said, was his motivation to throw everything he had into pre-season.
“I want to be the best ruckman in the competition,” O’Brien told the media on Monday.
“I’ve been working really hard over the break and over the pre-season, physically I’m in the best spot I’ve been in terms of strength and getting a few niggles out.”
While never complacent, O’Brien said the looming pressure of Strachan and selection put extra fire in his belly to take his game to the next level.
“(Strachan’s) really improved each year he’s been here, he was at the level last year in those last couple of games we played,” O’Brien said.
“He finished the year with me out so it’s been really good for me in terms of spurring me on and giving me that necessity to fight for my spot in the team.
“We push each other to get better.”
O’Brien said selection would be a hot topic heading into the opening round Round One, with returns from injury and exciting new recruits fighting for their spot in the side.
“There’ll be a lot of pressure for spots come Round One with a really fit list,” O’Brien said.
“The young guys coming through are training the house down. Harry Schoenberg’s looking like he’s going to go to another level… and guys like Sam Berry are dominating.”
But O’Brien was excited to see one Crow in particular back on the track.
“(We’ve got) a young bloke called Matty Crouch who’s coming back this year and he’s looking really, really good at training,” O’Brien said.
“(It was a) frustrating year for Matty last year so he’s been champing at the bit to get out there.
“He’s certainly showing that he’s excited to be back because he’s been tearing it up. I can’t wait to have him back there because he’s a superstar of the competition.”
