A STIRRING second half of the season will have Carlton full of confidence with 2019 coming to a close.

Familiar faces fired in Navy Blue while the Club’s emerging youngsters owned the future in a campaign which saw the Blues record seven wins for the year.

With the home-and-away season now over, we’re going through every player who featured for Carlton at senior level in 2019. 

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No. 4, Lochie O’Brien. 

GAMES


2019: 17

Career: 35

GOALS


2019: 7

Career: 9

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 211 (12.4) Marks: 80 (4.7) Uncontested possessions: 158 (9.3) Tackles: 19 (1.1) Inside 50s: 38 (2.2) Metres gained: 4387 (258.1)

OVERVIEW


Lochie O’Brien began to build into a consistent performer for the Blues in his second year in Navy Blue, establishing himself in the senior side throughout the second half of the 2019 campaign. 

After receiving the call-up to play against Sydney in Round 3, O’Brien proved his ability to play a role for the team on the wing over 17 appearances this season. 

Having featured sporadically in the first half of the year, O’Brien returned to the AFL line-up after the mid-season bye and featured in every game from that point. 

The young Blue only improved as the season wore on, enjoying an increase in possession rate, score involvements and metres gained after returning to the senior side after Round 12. 

BEST PERFORMANCE

O’Brien’s best came late in the season when the Blues faced the Saints in a second chance showdown at the traditional home of football. 

The young Blue was influential in Carlton’s 10-point victory over St Kilda, racking up 18 disposals as well as producing a team-high seven score involvements.

Adding some much-needed run for the Blues, O’Brien came into form under a more attacking style of football towards the back end of the year. 

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

While O’Brien came into his best form in the back half of the year, the youngster produced a clutch in Round 6 against Hawthorn in Launceston.

While the Blues weren’t able to nab the four points away from home, O’Brien kept them in contention until the final siren with a late goal at UTAS Stadium.

The gather, sidestep and late left-footed snap put Carlton back within a goal of Hawthorn with four minutes remaining: however, it wasn’t meant to be for the Blues in a five-point defeat.

THEY SAID IT

Midfield assistant coach Brent Stanton was quick to praise O’Brien’s growth towards the back end of 2019 in an edition of Carlton Coaches’ Corner.

“Lochie’s on a really good path,” Stanton said.

“He’s an exciting kid to work with in wanting to learn and get better. 

“[He has shown] what he can bring to our football team and that’s his run, his decision-making and especially his kicking and finish.”