Reilly O'Brien Biography

Reilly O'Brien is awarded the Jim Stynes medal in recognition of his work in mental health advocacy with high school students.

“Reilly is highly deserving of this prestigious accolade and should be very proud of the enormous impact he is having on school students across South Australia with the work he does for the Open Parachute Mental Health Program," AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.

“Data shows two in five Australians have experienced a mental health challenge in their lifetime, so early education and encouraging open conversations is vitally important. For Reilly to draw upon his own experiences to help others and connect with young people reflects his character and embodies the work of the late Jim Stynes.

Adelaide announces an expanded leadership group, with Lachlan Murphy among four additions to support captain Jordan Dawson.

The 25-year-old Murphy joins Darcy Fogarty, Wayne Milera and Mitch Hinge as fresh faces with Brodie Smith, Ben Keays and Reilly O'Brien named as joint vice-captains.

Reilly O'Brien is determined to recapture the stoppage craft that made him a club champion in 2020 after losing form and overthinking his game in 2022.

"I was flat-footed at times and I felt a bit slow, so I've been doing a lot of work on my agility and repeat efforts to really have a big impact around there this year," he said.

"After every year you reflect and assess how you went and look at why the year went the way it did … and that follow-up stood out as an area that dropped off. That probably flowed into other areas of my game in terms of my marking as well.

"They're my key strengths and they are the things that I know will make me a good player and help the team."

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says the rest of the leadership group will share captaincy duties following skipper Rory Sloane's ACL injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the season. The group includes Brodie Smith, Ben Keays, Reilly O'Brien and Tom Doedee.

"There's four guys there who are outstanding leaders in their own right and they will work through the rest of the year and make sure we have that leadership on-field," Nicks said.

Adelaide adds two new faces to its leadership group for 2022, namely Ben Keays and Reilly O'Brien. The two will serve under fourth-year skipper Rory Sloane along with Tom Doedee and Brodie Smith.

Matt Crouch will no longer be part of the group in 2022 following an injury-riddled 2021 in which he was unable to add to his 125-game career.

"We are blessed at this footy club to have a number of leaders within our playing group and the addition of both Reilly and Ben to the leadership group reflects the growth of our young team and the exciting direction we are heading," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.

Reilly O'Brien's 2021 season is likely over after the ruckman suffered a low-grade ligament tear in his right knee in Adelaide's four-point loss to Port Adelaide.

"The most appropriate course of management for Reilly is to miss this weekend's game against Melbourne," Adelaide's head of football Adam Kelly said.

"He will not require surgery and is expected to recover fully but that may not be in time for the round 23 clash with North Melbourne."

Reilly O'Brien signs a four-year contract extension to remain a Crow until at least the end of 2025.

"I'm really comfortable in Adelaide and excited with where the club is heading, I want to be part of something special and help build that from the ground up and this is a great opportunity to do that," O'Brien said.

Reilly O'Brien claims his maiden Malcolm Blight Medal as the Crows' best and fairest with 81 votes, edging out Rory Laird (80) and Luke Brown (76).

O'Brien, who finished the season with 37 games to his name, becomes the second least experienced Crows club champion behind Matt Connell who won the 1995 count with 24 matches to his name.

Following Reilly O'Brien's gaffe when he called Nic Naitanui "unfit and lazy" in an unintended Twitter post, Naitanui demonstrates that there are no hard feelings between the two by giving O'Brien a brand new phone (courtesy of Telstra) after West Coast's win over the Crows.

"Everyone expected me to have a go at the big fella. They sent me up a phone from Sydney, so I gave the big fella a brand new one. It's a better phone than I've got," Naitanui told ABC radio.

"He's a good fella, he was over the moon. I knew it came from a motivational side, not from any malice, so it was good fun, but if someone talks smack at you, you want to take it out on them."

Reilly O'Brien is caught calling West Coast star Nic Naitanui "lazy and unfit" in a Twitter blunder.

"Run off him hard, he is lazy and unfit," O'Brien's now-deleted tweet said. "Will have a field day getting ball and marking everything. Get to front and have grunt around the ground, and get ball on deck, beat him in this area."

O'Brien explained that it was a technical mishap resulting from the use of the 'notes' feature on his phone for positive reinforcement ahead of taking on the opposition.

"My phone's decided to cark it and I've had an absolute 'mare' on my social media today. It tweeted some of my game notes from my iPhone. I take a few of these notes every week before the game to try to pump myself and get a bit of confidence going into the game," O'Brien said.

"I make a few things up, as you can see on the notes, to try and give myself confidence.

"I've really put the pressure on myself now so I've really got to walk the walk this week and try to get a kick against the supertsar that is Nic Nat so we'll see how I go."

Reilly O'Brien signs a new two-year deal with Adelaide and will remain at the club until the end of 2021.

Having only played two senior games before this year, O'Brien has become the Crows' first-choice ruckman since round three when he replaced an injured Sam Jacobs.

"The Crows have shown enormous faith in me, so it's fantastic to be able to sign a new deal and commit to the Club," O'Brien said.

"It's been awesome to get the opportunity to play more senior footy this year and being able to contribute to the team."

Despite the two Adelaide ruckman competing for the same senior spot, Reilly O'Brien says he has a good relationship with the more veteran Sam Jacobs who acts as his mentor.

"We've got a relationship and there's certainly no awkwardness there," O'Brien said.

"He gives me advice every week. He's come up against a lot of opponents I've come up against and knows little tricks against them that work and what doesn't work and their little tendencies."

The Crows start contract talks with Reilly O'Brien who is having a breakout year in 2019.

O'Brien has played the past 11 games, taking his career total to 13 in his five seasons at the club after being taken with the ninth pick in the 2014 rookie draft.

He is coming off his most complete performance, racking up 54 hitouts, 19 disposals, seven inside 50s and six clearances in the Crows' 33-point win against Richmond.

"He's going out there knowing 'I am an AFL ruckman, I am good enough at this level'," Pyke said.

"What (O'Brien) has done over the (past 11) weeks is give himself the belief that he's good enough to compete against the rucks in the AFL and hopefully have a long career.

"With Reilly, we want to re-contract him.

"That's part of the process we're going through at the moment."

Adelaide coach Don Pyke says he has full confidence in ruckman Reilly O'Brien who will play in just his third game this week against Geelong, and his first since 2016.

"[O'Brien's] had a fantastic pre-season and it was neck and neck with Sam (Jacobs) for a while and Sam got the gig early, but he's had four years on the list, he's built his craft and he's looking forward to getting out there and playing in the ruck," Pyke said.

Reilly O'Brien is in career-best shape after finishing third in the Crows' 2km time trial.

Reilly O'Brien will have shoulder reconstruction surgery this week, ending his 2018 season prematurely.

O'Brien has been battling a shoulder problem for weeks but the Crows said it had reached a point where surgery was the best option.

Reilly O'Brien signs a two-year contract extension with Adelaide that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

“To see him progress initially from the rookie list to earning a senior debut last season is a credit to him and the club’s coaching staff," Adelaide's head of football Brett Burton said of O'Brien.

“We love his competitive nature and his willingness to learn and we look forward to seeing him continue to develop over the next few years.”

The Crows cut Ricky Henderson and midfielder Mitch Grigg ahead of the AFL's first list lodgement deadline.

The Crows have also confirmed the upgrading of ruckman Reilly O'Brien, a new two-year deal for emerging forward Harry Dear and one-year extensions for rookies Jonathon Beech and Paul Hunter.

Reilly O'Brien makes his AFL debut for Adelaide at Adelaide Oval with 16 disposals (5 kicks and 11 handballs), 3 marks, 2 tackles, 29 hitouts and a goal in a 138-point win over Brisbane.

Adelaide re-signs rookie ruckman Reilly O'Brien for another two seasons after being impressed with his form in the SANFL.

O'Brien has quickly moved up behind Sam Jacobs in the club's ruck pecking order, suggesting he's set to be upgraded to the senior list permanently next year.

In his first season in the SANFL, the 19-year-old has averaged 12 possessions, four marks and 30 hit-outs a game in 14 matches.

"I love the environment here at the club and the direction we're heading in," O'Brien said.

"I'm learning a lot from Sam Jacobs, (assistant coach Matthew) 'Doc' Clarke and all the coaches, and look forward to continuing to develop my game."

Head of football David Noble says he is excited about O'Brien's future at West Lakes.

"We're really pleased with Reilly's development in his short time at our club, and we believe he's got enormous room for growth," Noble said.

"He's a real competitor who never gives up on a contest and always looks to bring his teammates into the game. Our ruck stocks are in a good position moving forward."

Adelaide coach Phil Walsh says he is excited with 19-year old Reilly O'Brien who impressed in his first senior opportunity during the club's opening NAB Challenge clash against North Melbourne in Port Lincoln.

O'Brien tallied 14 hit-outs and eight disposals in a performance that has earned him another opportunity in the Crows' upcoming NAB Challenge clash against Geelong.

"I was really happy with how Reilly performed last week, (he) did the majority of the ruck work and he'll probably do the same again," Walsh said.

"If Reilly goes well again I'll play him again against Port (in the club's final NAB Challenge game).

"I've spoken to the players, if you play well you stay in the team and that's how it works."

Adelaide select Reilly O'Brien with pick No.9 in the 2014 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

"The needs to finish off our planning was another developing ruck and the bonus with Reilly is that he can play back – be played basically the whole year back," Crows recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie said.

"We like that but we've always thought of him as a ruckman."