Ruck revelation Reilly O’Brien opens up about his future with the Adelaide Crows

He hit the 2019 season in the best shape of his life but ready for another year of playing second fiddle to Sam Jacobs. Things have changed pretty quickly for Reilly O’Brien.

Reilly O’Brien has forced the Crows to make some tough decisions. Picture: AAP Images

Adelaide’s new ruck revelation Reilly O’Brien has pledged his future to the Crows after form so strong he is keeping Sam Jacobs out of the side.

O’Brien has been one of footy’s best stories in 2019, emerging from Jacobs’ shadow to soundly beat Shane Mumford last week in the best of his 10 games this year.

The biomedicine student from Ascot Vale scored 99.75 on his ATAR while playing with the Calder Cannons and has this year thrived after four years as Jacobs’ understudy.

The 23-year-old told the Herald Sun that despite speculation Melbourne clubs would come hard for him, he wanted to stay with the club that drafted him as a rookie.

“I am definitely keen to stay here. The club has been great for me and shown faith in me so that will sort itself out as the year goes on,” O’Brien said.

“For the moment I am focusing on footy and I will sort through that with my manager later in the year. There is no rush but hopefully I am able to sign a deal and stay around.

“It would be good to sign a deal and commit and focus on the footy and not have to worry about that stuff.”

The biggest pre-season of O’Brien’s life saw him log a 6 min 13sec 2km time trial, then Jacobs went down with a knee injury in Round 2.

Now Jacobs is stuck in the SANFL despite two strong performances and coach Don Pyke has admitted that decision was based purely on form.

“We are great mates and he (Jacobs) is one of the best blokes in football so it was looking a bit like last year where I would be ready to go but be stuck behind him — and then he went down,” O’Brien said.

Reilly O’Brien got the better of Shane Mumford last week. Picture: Getty Images

“He is back now playing really good footy and I have to try to keep performing.

“He is a champion and it’s a good spot for the club to be in, so I will try to play as well as I can and he will do the same.”

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The battle with Mumford last week saw O’Brien not only hold his own physically but also notch 104 ranking points, 17 possessions and 11 hit-outs to advantage.

“He knocked me over a few times when I wasn’t looking, which he loves to do, but he wasn’t too bad on the lip,” O’Brien said. “It was awesome to come up against him.”