In 2023, then 18-year-old Aiden O'Driscoll saw his dreams come true when he was drafted by the Western Bulldogs. The 55th overall pick in the national draft had earned the chance and felt like he belonged. But his chances at living his dream were dealt a crushing blow before he even had a chance to play a game.
The now 20-year-old had made it to his first AFL practice match when a horror head-on-head collision changed his life forever. The incident caused a fracture behind O'Driscoll's ear and multiple bleeds on his brain, ending his AFL career before it had a chance to get started in earnest. This fate has befallen far too many AFL players following severe head trauma.
O'Driscoll was medically retired by the AFL following multiple brain bleeds and a skull fracture. The 20-year-old was given a payout of just $150,000 following the forced conclusion of his AFL career.
Speaking of the incident, O'Driscoll told ABC News, 'I was like, this is actually real now. I'm an AFL player — this is who I am. I can train every day. I can work my butt off to then be a better player. All the Bulldogs boys were so welcoming and it felt like another family.'
'I was hit … right behind the ear. It actually left a fracture behind my ear as well. So, it was a massive hit. I had a seizure … and I woke up in an ambulance.'
After an MRI revealed multiple brain bleeds, O'Driscoll was retired by the AFL on medical grounds. Now the Bulldogs draft pick has found himself in a fight for compensation.
An AFL medical panel's report in April 2024 revealed the true extent of the injuries. 'Aiden has more micro-haemorrhages than the panel has seen in other athletes with concussion,' they wrote. 'The panel recommends that Aiden should not return to contact sport in the future.'
After being shown scans of his MRI by the AFL doctors, O'Driscoll said, 'To see that's my brain after one hit was a shock, a massive shock. I said to Mum, this is it, I'm done, what did I do to deserve this, why is life being so cruel to me?'
The AFL Players Association offers a career-ending injury payment of up to $500,000 for players forced into retirement due to injuries sustained while playing or training. Of that, O'Driscoll was given a $150,000 payout, but, as have many other brain-injured players, he is exploring other compensation options.
The AFLPA also has the Severe Injury Benefit fund that provides payment of up to $600,000 for those left unable to work full-time. O'Driscoll had his application to the fund recently rejected despite his submission stating the injury had left him with 'mental health battles' and 'impacts every day life, having to deal with ongoing symptoms and constantly thinking about the trauma, along with now having worries about what the future looks like.'
O'Driscoll said he often finds himself breaking down in heaving sobs for 15 minutes at a time. He is still living with dizziness, nausea, anxiety, and has difficulty sleeping.
