SHANE O’Sullivan had a front row seat to the physicality of Aaron Hamill in his playing days.
Throwing his body around in (initially) the Carlton forward line with reckless abandon was a common sight on Royal Parade.
While he won’t be crashing packs, O’Sullivan expects the same kind of tenacity and commitment from Hamill in his coaching: according to the veteran administrator, he only knows one way.
“I’m sure it will. I’m sure the boys down back will know that the commitment has to be huge and he won't take a backwards step in letting them know,” O’Sullivan told Carlton Media.
“He played with no fear when he played himself. He just saw the footy and jumped and went for it at every opportunity.
“I’m pretty certain he’ll be very strong in what he wants and what he’s going to demand from them all.”
When talking about Hamill’s Carlton journey yesterday (which you can read here), O'Sullivan said it was a heartwarming moment to see the boy who walked into the Club as a 17-year-old return a man and take a number of young Blues under his wing.
Hamill himself mentioned that while he was a forward by trade, the defensive aspect has also marked the foundation of his game: whether it was when he was playing, as defensive coach of St Kilda or even coaching his own side at VFL level.
With members of the football department in at the Club sporadically in preparation for the upcoming pre-season, O’Sullivan said the early weeks of Hamill had produced no surprises and what you see is what you get.
“I think the boys that play in the back line are going to get a lot out of him,” he said.
“It’s good having back and watching him in the last couple of weeks. I think it’s always good having an ex-Carlton player in at the Club coaching.
“It’s always sad when people leave. But it looks like an exciting coaching group that has come in and provided a refresh for the place.”
In a year which has seen Eddie Betts depart the Club and Michael Voss join as coach, the customary ‘make-you-feel-old’ moment for O’Sullivan came when reciting a story Hamill offered up on his first day.
When asked which familiar faces were still around the place, Hamill - naturally - mentioned O’Sullivan’s name. Not just Shane, but also daughter Lil, the Club’s Wellbeing and Engagement Manager.
Mentioning that he could still remember a young Lil running around the change rooms, it was a moment of realisation for Hamill — and more so for dad Shane.
“It certainly does make me feel old, that’s for sure!
“It’s pretty special to work in the same building as your daughter. It’s exciting for me, and probably unfortunate for her that she’s got to see me every day sitting out in front of her office. She’s got the office and I haven’t anymore!
“She’s grown up around the footy club and we’ve had players live with us for well over 20 years, so she doesn’t see them as anything other than normal people which has helped her in her work.”
