When you love playing football as much as Gabby O’Sullivan, there’s no real need to celebrate a milestone game.
That’s not to say her upcoming 50th AFLW game doesn’t mean a lot, but to the forward turned midfielder, it’s a special moment every time she runs out in a Fremantle jumper.
Her next chance will be at the Gabba on Sunday when her family join the away Purple Army contingent to cheer Freo on against Brisbane in round one.
“My Mum was saying, ‘50 games what an awesome achievement’, and I said yeah but I want to get another 50!” O’Sullivan said.
“It’s not really about the number of games for me though, it’s just playing as much footy as I can.”
O’Sullivan’s enthusiasm for the game is no more evident than at training, where she’s consistently among the most vocal and energetic on track.
She said this attitude comes through knowing that every person’s time in the game limited.
“One of the best things is being a part of the vibes around the Club and being able to create friendships that you’ll carry on for a lifetime,” O’Suillivan said.
“I never ever want to leave that sort of environment and I think that’s why I have so much fun and take so much enjoyment out of it, because I know it’s not going to last forever.
“You’re an athlete for a limited amount of time. It’s one of the greatest things in the world I reckon, being able to be a part of a group like this and have 30 other girls around me that are enjoying themselves too. Not many people get to experience that.
“It’s something that I’m not taking for granted and I think until the day I retire, I’ll enjoy it just as much as I did when I first started.”
While O’Sullivan is talking like someone on the verge of retirement, the 28-year-old has no plans on going anywhere anytime soon with dreams of becoming Fremantle’s AFLW equivalent of David Mundy.
“I’m nowhere near David Mundy, but I was watching a Freo men’s game and I texted ‘Coops’ (Senior Coach Trent Cooper) saying I was going to play until I was 36,” O’Sullivan said.
“Coops said he was fine with that as long as I was happy to move to the goal square. I said I’d stay in the midfield until I’m 35 and move into the square at 36.
“I’ll keep that message on my phone for a while and if he tries to get rid of me, I’ll bring up that text message!”
When told Mundy was actually 37, O’Sullivan lit up.
“Beautiful, that’s actually made my day. You’ve given me another year!”
