TIM O\u2019Brien admits he feared his AFL career was coming to an end before joining the Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old was traded to the Bulldogs last week, signing a two-year deal after playing 97 games at Hawthorn.<\/p>\n
The ex-Hawk was asked whether he had any fears that his AFL career might be over at any stage over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always held onto hope and believed in myself that I\u2019d be able to find another chance at it,\u201d O\u2019Brien told SEN\u2019s Bob and Andy<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there\u2019s always thoughts that come into your head that that was a genuine chance [my career was over].<\/p>\n \u201cI do carpentry on the side, so I was thinking in a week or two I could be a chippy.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are all those things that come into your mind, but I backed myself in that I would be able to find a home somewhere else if it wasn\u2019t going to be at the Hawthorn footy club.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien, a key position utility, is looking forward to a fresh start at the Dogs and working on his defensive craft.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t spent a lot of time nailed down in the defensive end, I\u2019ve obviously pinched hit there a little bit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s one thing I\u2019m really excited about because I think my skillset is well suited to the back end, especially with how footy is played at the minute.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually had a conversation with Clarko [Alastair Clarkson]\u2026 and he always thought the back end was going to be the best, but for whatever reason at different times, he needed me to play forward.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s exciting the Bulldogs need a player like me, I\u2019ve got the skillset to do it and I\u2019ve got the whole pre-season to knuckle down and have a good run at it.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien was selected with pick number 28 in the 2012 National Draft.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n