Stephen O'Reilly (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen O'Reilly is an Australian rules football
er, who mainly played as a full back. He was educated at Aquinas College, Perth
.
in the WAFL
before being drafted to Geelong
in the AFL
with selection 9 in the 1991 National Draft. As was common at the time, O'Reilly decided against moving to Geelong immediately and instead remained at Swan Districts for the 1992 season.
for the 1995 season. He led an inexperienced backline in their initial seasons, and finished 4th, 1st and 6th in the Best and Fairest award in his first three years at the new club. Following the 1997 O'Reilly suffered a bad hamstring tear in which the muscle was completely torn off the bone. The 1998 and 1999 seasons saw him play at both ends of the ground, but not as effectively as the earlier years.
agreed to a trade and Fremantle received selections 16 and 46 in return. O'Reilly played 12 games for Carlton in 2000, but due to a recurring back injury couldn't regain the form he had shown at Fremantle. He retired at the end of 2000 having played a total of 146 games over 8 years at three clubs.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, who mainly played as a full back. He was educated at Aquinas College, Perth
Aquinas College, Perth
Aquinas College is a Catholic independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Salter Point, Western Australia. Its sister school is Santa Maria Ladies College located in Attadale...
.
WAFL career
He initially played for Swan DistrictsSwan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
before being drafted to Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
with selection 9 in the 1991 National Draft. As was common at the time, O'Reilly decided against moving to Geelong immediately and instead remained at Swan Districts for the 1992 season.
Geelong career
In 1993 he made the move east and played in 12 games in his debut season. In 1994 he only missed one game and was a member of Geelong's losing grand final side.Fremantle career
As a strong defender, he was targeted by the newly formed Fremantle DockersFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
for the 1995 season. He led an inexperienced backline in their initial seasons, and finished 4th, 1st and 6th in the Best and Fairest award in his first three years at the new club. Following the 1997 O'Reilly suffered a bad hamstring tear in which the muscle was completely torn off the bone. The 1998 and 1999 seasons saw him play at both ends of the ground, but not as effectively as the earlier years.
Carlton career
Personal reasons saw O'Reilly request a transfer back to Melbourne at the end of 1999 season. CarltonCarlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
agreed to a trade and Fremantle received selections 16 and 46 in return. O'Reilly played 12 games for Carlton in 2000, but due to a recurring back injury couldn't regain the form he had shown at Fremantle. He retired at the end of 2000 having played a total of 146 games over 8 years at three clubs.