Aiden O'Driscoll: Footy star is forced to retire aged just 18 without playing a single AFL game after a horror incident in training

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Western Bulldogs draftee Aiden O'Driscoll has been forced to medically retire from the AFL without playing a single game after a horror concussion in pre-season training.

The No. 55 pick, who recorded the fastest 20m sprint time at the 2023 draft combine, was advised to quit contact sports by the AFL's independent concussion panel this week.

O'Driscoll had been listed as an indefinite absence on the Bulldogs' injury list after he suffered a head injury during a training session in January.

The 18-year-old is the younger brother of Fremantle AFL and AFLW players Nathan and Emma O'Driscoll.

Aiden O'Driscoll suffered a horror head injury in preseason training - and now it has cost him what was shaping to be an impressive career in the AFL

The 18-year-old was the fastest player over 20 metres at the AFL draft combine (pictured)

'Western Bulldogs forward Aiden O'Driscoll has retired from the AFL effective immediately on medical grounds,' a Bulldogs statement on Tuesday read.

'Aiden suffered a significant head injury during a pre-season training session in January.

'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.'

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.

O'Driscoll (centre) is pictured with his footy star siblings Nathan and Emma, who both play for the Fremantle Dockers

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.