Western Bulldogs draftee Aiden O'Driscoll's AFL career has ended before he even played a game, with the youngster forced into premature retirement through concussion.
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Speedy O'Driscoll, the younger brother of Fremantle AFL forward Nathan O'Driscoll and Dockers AFLW star defender Emma O'Driscoll, was drafted to the Bulldogs at pick No.55 in last year's draft.
But after suffering a "significant head injury" in pre-season, O'Driscoll, 18, never played a game for the Bulldogs, who confirmed on Tuesday he had retired on medical grounds.
He is the third player, after Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw and Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy, to be forced into retirement through concussion this season.
"Aiden suffered a significant head injury during a pre-season training session in January," the Bulldogs said in a statement.
"Following extensive clinical assessments, investigations and expert consultation that included a review by an Independent Medical Concussion Panel, Aiden has been advised to retire from contact sports in the interests of his long-term health and wellbeing.
"The club will give Aiden and his family all the support it can at this difficult time."
O'Driscoll's retirement comes amid a cloud over the playing future of Bulldogs stalwart Tom Liberatore.
The Bulldogs vice-captain is sidelined indefinitely after two separate concussions this season, with no timeline on a return to play.
Coach Luke Beveridge indicated Liberatore could be put forward for independent assessment, but said it hadn't been confirmed yet.
"With the recent retirements in young Murphy and Angus Brayshaw and some of the uncertainty around a couple of players who have had recent concussion, my level of concern around Tom is significant, because it's an unknown," Beveridge said on Fox Footy on Monday.
"Ultimately we've got to defer to the experts and medical practitioners as far as opinions go.
"I can't talk about the clinical side of things, but him as a young man and what he's done for all of us, I just hope he's going to be OK.
"We hold out a strong hope he might be able to play again, but ultimately the best result will be the result for Tom Liberatore's wellbeing."
Australian Associated Press
