The Adelaide Crows have announced a new four-year deal for star ruckman Reilly O'Brien.
It ties the 25-year old big man to West Lakes until the end of the 2025 season in a major coup for the rebuilding club.
The Crows took to social media to announce the news, poking fun of the leaked image of O'Brien's mobile notes on Eagles star Nic Naitanui prior to last year's matchup.
SEE ALSO: O’Brien’s now deleted tweet about Nic Nat revealed
CROWS CONTRACT
-get long-term deal
-win club champ in 2020, then stick around at AFC long-term, will have a field day in the ruck spot
-get deal signed and have confidence around ground, and get teammates to sign on, win this area
-AFC have clear plan and execute
thank— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) March 10, 2021
Originally drafted by the Crows with Pick 9 in the 2014 rookie draft out of the Calder Cannons, O'Brien enjoyed a breakout season in 2019 after taking over the number one ruck mantle at the club from Sam Jacobs.
O'Brien took his game to an ever higher level in 2020 and was a bright light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the wooden spooners.
He averaged 13.7 disposals, 27.2 hitouts and two contested marks from 17 games in reduced quarters, winning the Malcolm Blight Medal as Adelaide's best and fairest.
O'Brien was thrilled to commit his future to the Crows, joining Brodie Smith, Harry Schoenberg, Rory Laird, Andrew McPherson in penning new deals this off-season.
“And this allows me to invest in the group and really focus on others as well,” he told afc.com.au.
“I’m really comfortable in Adelaide and excited with where the Club is heading, I want to be part of something special and help build that from the ground up and this is a great opportunity to do that.”
Crows list boss Justin Reid said O’Brien's signature was significant for the club moving forward.
“Reilly is a hard-working, highly-talented ruckman who we value enormously and that was evident in him winning the Club’s best-and-fairest and the Members’ MVP Award last season,” Reid said.
“He demonstrates all the values we want our players to display, is professional with the way he approaches his football and his influence on game day is significant.
“He is a great example of a young player who has been prepared to do the hard work to get his opportunity and once that came he has not looked back and we could not be happier to have him remain at the Club for the next four years.”
