Country footy: Carngham Linton sign Strathmore star Nicholas O’Brien
An EDFL club has lost a key piece of its premiership puzzle with a star midfielder set to return to his junior side in 2023.
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Strathmore’s premiership defence has taken a blow with a star midfielder set to depart the club.
Former Essendon player Nick O’Brien is set to return to his junior club Carngham Linton for the 2023 season.
The Centrals Highlands Football Netball League club confirmed the 29-year-old would return to country footy alongside his brother Dean in a major boost for the Saints.
Carngham Linton experienced a winless 2022 season while Nick went onto play a key role in Strathmore’s first Essendon District League Premier Division premiership since 2014.
After arriving at the club for the 2018 season, he went onto play 59 games and in the two years prior spent time in the SANFL and VFL, where he was the Essendon captain.
Nick also made a guest appearance during the 2017 season for his junior club.
The club described him as one of its “favourite sons”.
“The return of Nick back to the club was one that Nick himself was committed to doing and the timing for Nick and his family to return was perfect after he became a premiership player for Strathmore in the Essendon and District Football League two (sic) weekends ago,” a social media post from the club said.
“Nick will bring so much experience back to our club and the guidance and leadership he will provide for all our junior and senior players is something that you cannot buy, it will be so valuable moving forward for all and we cannot wait to see Nick back on the field in Carngham colours.”
Dean joined Nick at Lebanon Reserve for the 2022 season and went onto play seven games in the senior side.
He was a key performer in the reserves team which made the grand final playing 12 games and being named in the best on eight occasions.
In 2019 and 2021, he was runner-up in Carngham Linton’s senior best and fairest.
“To have Dean back will strengthen our midfield group and provide enormous amount of leadership on and off the field with Nick,” the club said.
“This is such exciting news for our great club and the recruiting team in which Nick and Dean have been actively involved in will continue to update you all when further re-signings and signings come in.
“Exciting times at our club and let's all get on this journey moving forward to put Carngham back where we belong.”
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