Lochie O’Brien #4 | 2021 Season Review

Written by Ari Stamatakos

SEASON SYNOPSIS

After only playing one game in season 2020, LOB needed to have a big year. He started well against The Tigers in round 1 - kicking the second goal of the game - however from there, the wheels fell off. He was dropped from the side and didn’t return until round 20. Where his football improved to a place where we haven’t seen before. He looked comfortable, quick, and willing to contest any ball. He played the last 4 games of the season and had a reasonable time of it. Proving that with the right circumstances he can be a very handy player. 

Halfway through the year, you wouldn’t have been mistaken if you had thought he was gone. However, he worked hard and fought his way back into the team and proved to all the doubters that he is very capable of playing good footy, he just needs to stay injury-free and perform consistently. 

BEST PERFORMANCE

He needed to have an impact in his return game and boy did he have an impact. Here it is again, The St. Kilda game in round 20 is the stage for another player to have his season-best game. This was his first match since round 1 and many sceptics were waiting to jump on him if he had a poor game. Well, weren’t they proven wrong. 

He had 21 disposals, 13 uncontested possessions, 81% disposal efficiency, 5 marks, 5 intercept possessions and 6 inside 50’s. This is the performance for which he needs to see more of from LOB. This was his first 20+ disposal game since 2018 and he pulled it out of the bag when his Carlton career was on the line. His exquisite kicking inside 50 was on full display and he nearly singled handily tore the game apart with constant darts to the chest of Harry and the like. 

OFF-SEASON & 2021 OUTLOOK

His last month might have just saved him. He had to come back into the side and perform, and I think he just did enough to secure him another year as a Navy Blue. He needs to have an absolutely killer pre-season to get him a secure spot in the 22. He is one of the very few actual wingmen on the list so that helps him. There is very little competition for spots in his position, so he needs to take that and use it to make that wing position his own. 

What he needs to improve on in season 2022 is that he needs to stay in games longer. In the 5 games he played this season, he had patches of really good footy, then he would disappear for a large portion of the game. For him to make that sustained impact that we need from him, he needs to find a way, when the going gets tough, to keep his head in the game and keep fighting. Because, as we all can see, he has the talent, he just needs to work on the mental side of the game. 

2021 REPORT CARD RATING

C-

STATUS HEADING INTO 2022 

Last Chance/ Fringe 22 player.