Competing in triathlons, 6am swims in Port Phillip Bay and conditioning himself for the rigours of Goulburn Valley League senior football.
That’s how Seymour’s Jack O’Sullivan spent his 12 months away from footy due to a serious shoulder injury.
The 2021 Morrison Medal winner joined rare air on Monday night as he became the newest dual medallist of the league’s top individual gong.
The star on-baller finished the heart-racing vote count on 28 votes, one ahead of last year’s runner-up Kaine Herbert, after he polled one vote in the final round to edge out the Kyabram gun.
Rounding out the top-five was skilful Rochester tall Mitch Cricelli (21 votes), Echuca co-coach Sam Reid (20) and Cricelli’s teammate Joe Atley (16).
O’Sullivan, 25, said he was surprised his name was called out for the second time at the league’s night of nights.
“Yeah it’s very humbling, I certainly didn’t expect it,” he said.
“I honestly thought Will Hayes or Kaine Herbert would have won it ... I definitely wasn’t expecting it, but it’s nice to come away with it.
“It’s great to be able to test yourself against some really quality footballers week-in and week-out.
“There’s no side in the GVL that doesn’t have star players. If you’re not on, any side can beat you and that was evident when Shepp Bears beat us in the last round.
“It’s a strong comp and every week you’re playing against quality players and testing yourself each week and that’s the standard of footy I want to play.”
The hard-nosed midfielder, who captained the GVL interleague squad earlier this season, enjoyed a strong year on the park for the Lions.
O’Sullivan averaged 26.7 disposals, 11.6 contested possessions, 6.4 clearances and 6.8 score involvements a game.
The star Lion’s triumph has the Morrison Medal heading to Kings Park for the third consecutive year after teammate Ben Rigoni claimed the medal in 2022.
Rigoni stepped up into the fold in the absence of O’Sullivan, who injured his shoulder before the opening round of 2022.
O’Sullivan revealed he did struggle at times watching on from beyond the white line, but he credited some key people for helping him out along the way.
“It was definitely difficult but I had great support around me,” he said.
“Tommy Freeman, my physio, got my shoulder back up to full strength, the trainers at Seymour have been fantastic as well, Tony Waite especially.
“I thought I came in and slotted in alright from the get-go and found some form.
“Missing last year you lose a bit of fitness so I actually went away and did a triathlon with a mate.
“Aaron Kelly was there for me every step of the way, I don’t think I would have been in the bay at 6am on a Saturday if he wasn’t there, so he helped keep me honest.
“Just getting back to play, which is what I love, was fantastic and building some form makes it better when you’re playing well.”
O’Sullivan joined Seymour after spending his junior years at Romsey.
A friendship with fellow gun Lion Jack Murphy while boarding at Assumption College opened the door to his shift to the Lions’ Den.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” O’Sullivan said.
“It’s a fantastic footy club; they’re amazing people, teammates are all amazing, as soon as you walk in you feel like you’ve been there for five years.
“Everyone is your best mate and that’s carried through now off the field, I consider a lot of my close friends as Seymour people.
The Morrison Medal triumph came a week after O’Sullivan and the Lions were bundled out of the finals series in straight sets.
O’Sullivan, who put pen to paper for next year, said him and his teammates were already looking towards 2024.
“It burns, it will drive a lot of us boys for next year,” he said.
“In a way it will be a good thing in getting the boys fired up for pre-season and ready to go. That fire is burning in the belly after going out in straight sets.”