With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations, Chris Fagan.
After spending season 2013 developing in the VFL, Tim O’Brien broke through immediately after an impressive pre-season by earning his debut in Round 1 against the Lions.
With the departure of Lance Franklin, O’Brien stepped up to fill a key position in the forward line for the opening two rounds in his first taste of senior footy.
He played four senior games in his debut season, showing glimpses of the promise he displayed when selected by the Hawks with pick 28 in the 2012 National Draft.
O’Brien joined the illustrious first kick, first goal club when he booted his first major against the Lions in Round 1, in an impressive first hit out for the Hawks.
He backed up that performance with a quieter second game against the Bombers in Round 2, contributing to a critical goal in the dying stages of Hawthorn’s nail-biting victory.
Omitted for the Round 3 clash against Fremantle, O’Brien didn’t re-appear for the Hawks until Round 13, when he had eight disposals, took five marks and kicked a goal in the win over Carlton.
In that time the young key forward provided a target up forward for Marco Bello’s Box Hill side in the VFL and impressed Hawthorn’s coaching staff.
One of his best games for the year came in Round 4 of the VFL, when he had 18 disposals, took five marks and kicked two goals in the victory over Coburg and was again listed among the best against Richmond in Round 7.
On that day he had 15 disposals, took eight marks and kicked two goals to show he can get his hands on the footy and convert in front of goal.
He was also named in the best against Casey in Round 11 with 21 disposals and eight marks.
His next and last senior game for the year came in the Round 21 loss to Fremantle after that good run of form in the seconds.
Unfortunately, after being omitted again, his next outing for Box Hill saw him injure his hamstring and miss a month before returning for the final game of the year, the VFL Grand Final loss to Footscray.
A return of four senior games and 16 more than impressive ones in the VFL was a step forward for the highly-talented youngster, who has a bright future ahead of him.
He signed a contract extension after just his first season on Hawthorn’s list and showed this year already, that he’s developing well in the Club’s program by working with coaches like Bello and Damian Caroll.
What GM – Footy Chris Fagan said: “He made progress this year. He made his debut and played four games and showed in those that he has what it takes.
“He’s a really clean ball handler, a good decision-maker and can take a good mark. As his body gets stronger, we expect him to make an important contribution to the team as a forward.
“His form this year at Box Hill was the best we’ve seen. He’s growing as a player pretty quickly.”
Tim O’Brien in the news in 2014
- How we got the call: Debutants speak
- VFL: O’Brien puts his hand up
Videos featuring Tim O’Brien in 2014
- O’Brien excited to debut
- Guernsey presentation: O’Brien
- #everymoment: O’Brien
Tim O'Brien demands the footy in his senior debut for the Hawks.
