The hard-luck story of the Tigers’ 2009 flag after missing the decider against Yarrawonga with an adductor injury sustained late in the season, he finally had a premiership medallion around his neck.

With nothing left to prove in the Ovens and Murray, O’Sullivan thought he would head bush and join Henty, where he had strong family ties.

In four seasons at Henty, O’Sullivan won an Azzi Medal, a best and fairest and co-coached the Swampies to the flag last season.

At 38, he was contemplating finishing his career on the ultimate high.

But his girlfriend and Lavington netballer Sarah Meredith, her father Darren and brother Nick, a developing ruckman at the Panthers, had other ideas.

“It was Christmas Eve at the Meredith household after quite a few drinks that the seed was planted to join Lavington,” O’Sullivan said.

“After I had a few I thought I would show Nick some of the finer points on being a tap ruckman.

“Darren and Nick then coaxed me into going to pre-season training and one thing sort of led to another and now I’m back running around in the O and M.”

O’Sullivan played the first four rounds, mainly in the ruck, before missing the Panthers’ past two matches with injury.

The athletic big man was last night recalled to the team to face Albury in the most anticipated match of the season so far.

O’Sullivan said there were still plenty of familiar faces at Tigerland, including co-coaches Chris Hyde and Daniel Maher, as well as Joel Mackie, Mark Bush, Luke Packer and Michael Thompson who he played alongside in the 2010 flag.

“It’s funny where life takes you,” he said.

“There’s not a hope in hell did I think I would ever play against Albury or play O and M again either.

“When I left Albury Sportsground I thought I would probably run around in the bush for a couple of years and then hang up the boots.”