Fremantle Docker Nathan O’Driscoll opens up on his surgery, scar and huge weight loss during 2024 AFL season

Fremantle midfielder Nathan O’Driscoll has revealed he lost 10kg following a blood clot in his knee last season as he showed off the scar he must now carry while doing everything possible to have a successful 2025. O’Driscoll played only two AFL games last season after a knee injury during a practice match against West Coast turned into a nightmare ordeal. He suffered a bloody clot which was only expected to sideline him for about one month, but quickly turned into something more serious with an infection, more surgery and scar rising from his knee to cover a large portion of his thigh. “I’ve got a pretty good scar to show for it,” O’Driscoll said. “It’s pretty gnarly. It was tough. Initially I thought I could be back pretty quick. I remember going under the knife for the first time and I thought I’d be back for four weeks and then the same injury happened again and that kept me out for another 14. I thought I wasn’t going to play footy again this year because the infection was pretty bad. “It was (about) building up strength (again). I’m pretty naturally fit. But I think I lost nearly 10kg. I went down to under 80kg. It was pretty much like getting drafted again and re-building my body back up.” O’Driscoll played five WAFL games late in the season before getting his chance to play as the sub for Fremantle against Greater Western Sydney. Coach Justin Longmuir threw him straight into the centre square with a negating role but he also had five possessions during his 23 minutes on the field. The 22-year-old filled a similar role against Port Adelaide the following week while collecting 20 disposals and kicking a goal. He went on to play in Peel Thunder’s WAFL premiership while averaging 26 possessions throughout the finals series. O’Driscoll spent last summer targeting a position on the wing and believes he can still earn a spot there for the start of 2025. He feels his finish to last season has shown he can fit into the strong Fremantle midfield. “It’s pretty tough but I think the wing spot is definitely open,” he said. “I think I have the ability now to play inside. It’s a bit of both, but probably wing this year. “There’s competition there but seeing myself last year and coming back and playing the way I was, I think I can take confidence from that.”