A fitter and stronger Jack Osborn says he wants to repay the faith of the Club after two seasons ravaged by injury.
Osborn joined Adelaide’s rookie list in late 2012 as a ‘Category B’ alternative talent selection, crossing from a career in basketball where he spent four years with Adams State University in the United States.
Switching sports provides its own challenges, but Osborn has also had to cope with several serious setbacks in adjusting his body to the rigours of Australian Rules football. He required hip surgery in his first year at the Club and suffered fractures to several transverse processes in his spine following a heavy fall in Round Two of last season.
Osborn has spent almost half of his time at West Lakes on the sidelines. He has played just 21 games in his first two seasons since being drafted to the Crows.
But the 205cm Tasmanian has already shown glimpses of his untapped talent in Adelaide’s opening two SANFL fixtures this year, booting four goals and notching 33 hit-outs to be among the side’s better contributors in both games.
See the stats from Adelaide’s Round Three SANFL clash
Osborn says he’s now confident he can put his injury woes behind him and deliver on his potential.
“It’s taken me a long time to get that strength required coming from basketball,” Osborn told afc.com.au after Adelaide’s Round Three clash with West Adelaide.
“I’ve had a rough run with injuries in my two years here and it’s made it hard to get any consistency in training. But I think I’m getting on top of it now. The doctors and the physios at the Club are brilliant and they’ve really helped me along.
“I’ve worked hard on getting my body right and have ensured I’ve ticked all the boxes with things like preparation and recovery after every session.
“I’m feeling strong and ready to get that ‘footy body’ back.”
Osborn says it all comes back to hard work, and that there’s no secret formula behind his promising start to Season 2015.
“It’s about consistency for me now and just staying on the field,” he said.
“The team relies on me to use my size and play that strong, big-man role. So that’s all I’m really focused on - just doing my bit for the team.”
The Crows bolted out of the blocks against the Bloods on Friday night. Adelaide booted the first four goals of the game and looked in control deep into the first term with a 24-point lead at the 19-minute mark.
“Our pressure, ground-ball efforts and tackling was brilliant in that first quarter,” Osborn said.
“We were really happy with how we were able to slow them down a bit and force them laterally. We started the game really well.”
But two late West Adelaide goals before quarter-time stalled Adelaide’s momentum, and the Bloods managed to grind their way back into the contest by the major break.
The game then opened up in the second half as West Adelaide piled on 10 goals to four to run out convincing winners.
After also being overrun by North Adelaide in Round Two, Osborn said the side’s late lapses were already proving costly.
“We just have to stay in structure and try to run the whole game out,” he said.
“We’ve started both our games strongly and opposition sides struggle to stay with us, but it doesn’t mean much if you can’t finish off the game.”
Adelaide’s next SANFL match is against Glenelg at The Bay on Friday, April 24.
