FOR what he lacks in size, Oakleigh Chargers Jack O’Sullivan makes up for in natural footballing ability. The 177cm, 71kg midfielder/forward is equally clean and tough, with enough athletic tricks to make him dangerous with ball-in-hand. Unfortunately the Xavier College boarder suffered repeat collarbone injuries, restricting him to just the one AFL Under 18 Championships game, and minimal Chargers matches.

“I started off quite well I was very happy with how I was going and I thought I was showing what I could do really well,” O’Sullivan said at the AFL National Draft Combine. I started to enjoy my footy a lot, that was something I focused on really heavily towards the middle part of the season, to enjoy it more and then I was struck down by injury which was no good.

“I broke my collarbone in the first Vic Country game, and then got fit again, got ready and then in the Pioneers (Wildcard Round in NAB League) game I slightly reopened the original fracture, so it’s been an up and down year. I think I’ve shown what I can do well, and we’ll just see what happens I guess.”

Though repeat injuries are a sign of worry for potential reoccurrence, O’Sullivan said he was thankful it was an “impact injury” rather than soft tissue, and hoped it would equally allay fears of AFL clubs considering drafting him.

“Because it’s an impact injury, it’s not something that will keep reoccurring, it was just really bad luck it happened again,” he said. Anyone’s collarbone would have been rattled by that hit that I got the second time. It’s definitely I’m lucky that it’s not a soft tissue or a knee or something.”

Coming into the Wildcard Round of the NAB League, Oakleigh Chargers were heavy favourites against Bendigo Pioneers, with the Chargers tipped to win the flag by many who watched the competition. The Pioneers had shown glimpses, but with the Chargers having double-figure AFL National Draft Combine invites, few would have been brave enough to tip the upset.

Except then Bendigo tore up the script. After weathering the storm early, the Pioneers slammed home seven of the first nine goals in the second half to run out 12-point winners at Mars Stadium. The loss is a sore point for O’Sullivan in more ways than one, having reopened that fractured collarbone in the match, while watching his team be knocked out of NAB League finals contention.

“I think us as a collective should have come into the game more aware that it was an elimination final,” O’Sullivan said. This is do-or-die, and maybe a couple of us thought we were just going to roll over them and obviously we didn’t. After the first half where I got injured it was a bit of a blur. I was pretty sad at the moment, but it was just real bad vibes as you could imagine.”

Given the injuries, O’Sullivan was not expecting much when it came to Draft Combine invites, so the talented small said he was “very happy” when receiving he email notification that he had made the combine list.

“I never really thought about the Combine and just opened my emails one day and said I was invited so it was awesome to get the opportunity,” he said. I was just very happy that I was granted the opportunity to come to this, it was awesome.”

O’Sullivan has chatted to a few clubs, and though he concedes there is nothing for certain given his injuries, he believes he can step up to the AFL as a high-forward who provides pressure both up the ground and inside 50. Boasting clean hands below his knees, the Chargers prospect said those traits, along with his speed and evasiveness, set him apart in the draft crop.

Now the Carlton fan is just waiting to see if he can hear his name read out. Though fully prepared to go the distance and need to wait until late in the draft, O’Sullivan said the opportunity would mean the world to him.

“I would feel amazing (if Carlton picked me),” he said. “I would feel amazing if any club would want to give me a chance.”