Daniel O’Sullivan Bows Out

After 101 games and countless hours spent on the training track, Daniel O’Sullivan has decided to retire.

O’Sullivan by his own admission wasn’t the most spectacular footballer but his dedication to the cause and his ability to perform different roles each week earned him the respect of his coaches, teammates and the opposition over the last seven seasons.

“I know I wasn’t the flashest footballer, I didn’t have the greatest skills, kick the most goals or anything like that but I’d like to think that if I got given a job I’d go out and do it to the very best of my ability.”

The decision to retire though was not one that was taken lightly by O’Sullivan with the player having been contemplating hanging up the boots for the past six months.

“I probably started thinking about retirement halfway through the year.”

“Work started getting busier and I was struggling to get to training on time.”

“Then in the offseason I started a new job as a Commercial Relationship Manager for Bank West and just time wise it was becoming a bit of a burden and I wouldn’t have been able to put in the time that is required to play at this level.”

O’Sullivan played his 100^th game in round 22 this year against Peel Thunder which means his name will now be permanently engraved onto the number seven locker at Lathlain Park.

“When I first arrived at the football club it certainly wasn’t something that I thought was going to happen but to see it on there will be pretty special.”

One thing that O’Sullivan will remember from his time at the Demons is the friendships that he made with his teammates and the staff that have worked at the club during his time there as well as playing down at the port on a warm autumn night.

“I’ve made a couple of lifelong mates, guys that I would not have met unless I came down to the football club.”

“I was best man at Chris Billings wedding and its stuff like that; the people that you meet through the footy club are probably what make the footy club great.”

“I always enjoyed playing South Fremantle on a Friday night, especially early in the year when it was still quite warm.”

“In 2011 we had one really good win there and I think the year afterwards was probably the absolute reverse of that but it was always good fun playing in those games.”

Early on in his career O’Sullivan was used as a tagging inside midfielder and remembers the battles that he used to have trying to curb the influence of Claremont’s Luke Blackwell.

“Blackwell was a serious player.  You could grab him and scrag him but he just always seemed to get his hands free.”

“He was a really smart footballer and was able to work to the right areas and always stay involved.  It was always a challenge playing on him.”

While his days as a player at Perth might be finished don’t be surprised to see O’Sullivan coaching at the club in the future.”

“I have spoken to the club about coaching roles in the past and this is certainly something that I would look at getting into.”

“At the moment I’ve said to the football club that I’d like to have the next twelve months off and look at it then.”

“I’ll probably assess where I am in the middle of next year and with the development squads normally later on in the year this is something that I would look at then.”

Now that O’Sullivan has retired the number seven is looking for a new owner with plenty of players putting their hands up to wear it.

“There have been a couple of boys that got onto me straight away once I’d announced it on Friday night.  Whoever it goes to I’m sure they’ll wear it with pride like anyone else did who pulled the Perth jumper on.”

“It has been a very enjoyable ride.  Obviously we have not had a lot of on field success but I have made some lifelong friends at the footy club and certainly consider it my second home and will be down watching games whenever I can.”

Football Manager Tyson Beattie said that “On behalf of the Perth Football Club we would like to thank Daniel on the service he has given us over the last seven seasons.  To play over 100 games is no mean feat and Daniel will always be welcome back at the club.  We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”