Luke O'Sullivan

Career: 1988-1997
Debut: Round 20, 1988 vs North Melbourne, aged 20 years, 138 days
953rd Carlton Player
Games: 62
Goals: 58
Last game: Round 18, 1997 vs Adelaide, aged 29 years, 128 days
Height: 182cm
Weight: 94kg
Guernsey No. 41 (1988-9), 27 (1990-97) & 60 (1993 night game)
DOB: 28 March, 1968

The story of Luke "Rhino" O'Sullivan is a pearler - was on the list for almost a decade, and only managed to reach his 50th game in his last year. A unique player, O'Sullivan was a 182cm barrel-chested, feet-pumping forward pocket / flanker who loved a goal. He was recruited from the Blues U/19's, after originally playing for Xavier College (Kew) despite signing on for Footscray where his cousin Shane O'Sullivan had moved to a few years earlier.

Luke also had another brother affiliated with the Blues, older brother Brendan O'Sullivan played Reserve Grade footy with the Blues from 1978 to 1980, he was also later to be the Runner for the Senior team.

Wearing the #27, Rhino had these fantastic side-burns that he wore with pride. His signature move was to take a bounce, rock on to his left foot (preferred) and try to run through tackles. He gave away his fair share of holding the ball free kicks, but also ran over a few opponents. He was a unique player, a player with flair, and clearly a player the Blues loved to keep around despite injury.

First playing in 1988, and perhaps most memorable for a 4 goal burst in Round 6, 1992, O'Sullivan would ironically be delisted after his best year of football, 1997. In the 4 years up to 1997, Rhino would manage 0, 2, 6 and 1 game respectively, due to injury and our strong team a the time. Doing his knee at Waverley didn't help - remember the surface giving way when he was wearing number 60 in the 1993 'Night' game against Footscray when the Club left his jumper back at Carlton?

1997 was Rhino's year. 15 games, kicking 12 goals 7 from the flank and occasional midfield role, provided a lot of enjoyment to the fans as Carlton slid out of the finals. Two cracking games - Round 9 versus Freo (26 stats, 2 goals) and Round 11 versus Brisbane are appropriate highlight packages for the man we all loved, the man we all wanted to succeed, the man with the sidies - "Rhino".

O'Sullivan wore No.54 in 1987 & 1988 whilst playing with the Blues reserves.

Luke O'Sullivan is the uncle of Sydney Swans youngster Daniel Hannebery.

The Rhino’s career acts as a time capsule for a generation of AFL football which will never be seen again. Only Essendon’s Dean Wallis may have taken longer to reach 100 AFL games. The modern player would never be afforded such time to develop/recover. Dogged by injuries and the fact that his natural playing positions were filled by some of Carlton’s most proven players it is a sign of the respect held for ‘The Uncle’ that his presence was sought by the Carlton Football Club for ten years plus.

Interesting Fact

Luke O'Sullivan became the first Carlton player and 10th in VFL/AFL history whose only two games for a season was the clubs first and last for that year in 1994.

Milestones

50 Games: Round 3, 1997 Vs Adelaide Crows

Career Highlights

1987 - Reserves Premiership

Video

Links

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Luke O'Sullivan | Career Breakdown

Gallery

Rhino 1995 GF.jpg
Luke O'Sullivan
O Sullivan recline.jpg
1985 - Footscray sign Luke O'Sullivan (29/08/85).
1992 Rd 8 - Luke O'Sullivan thumps the ball long.
1995 - Luke O'Sullivan modelling Carlton gear.
1989 Prac. Match - Walls talks to Luke O'Sullivan.Pic: Inside Football.
1989 - Luke O'Sullivan (05/05/89).Pic: Football Record.
1989 - Luke O'Sullivan; a real goer (May 89).Pic: Football Record.
1989 Rd 8 - O'Sullivan tackles Hawke.Inside Football.
1990 Rd 1 - Luke O'Sullivan.Pic: Football Life.
1990 Rd 16 - Luke O'Sullivan has the last laugh.Inside Football.
1990 Rd 16 - Luke O'Sullivan with the footy.Pic: Inside Football.
1991 Rd 2 - Stephen Edgar & Luke O'Sullivan in action.Pic: Football Record.
1991 Rd 12 - Luke O'Sullivan bangs the ball forward.Pic: Inside Football.
1992 Pre-season - Dorotich & O'Sullivans after being suspended (26/02/92).Inside Football.
1992 Rd 23 - Luke O'Sullivan battling it out for the footy.Pic: Inside Football.
1992 Rd 23 - Luke O'Sullivan takes a tumble.Pic: Inside Football.
1993 - Luke O'Sullivan.1993 Carlton Team Poster.
1993 - Quotes on Luke O'Sullivan's pre-season game's knee injury.Inside Football.
1993 - EJ Whitten opinion on O'Sullivans knee injury.Inside Football.
1993 Pre-season game - Luke O'Sullivan after doing his knee.Pic: Inside Football.
1993 - Luke O'Sullivan at pre-season training.Pic: Inside Football.
1993 - What does the future hold for Luke O'Sullivan?Inside Football.
1993 Luke O'Sullivans long wait (23/06/93).Pic: Inside Football.
1995 - Carlton boys during Pre-season run (Jan 95).Pic: Inside Football.
1995 - Luke O'Sullivan a top pinch-hitter.
1995 Rd 20 - Luke O'Sullivan starring in the reserves.
1995 - Luke O'Sullivan kicking the footy.
1997 Rd 11 - Luke O'Sullivan weaving out of trouble.
1996 Rd 2 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 Rd 3 - Rhino's 50th game.
1997 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 Rd 7 - Luke O'Sullivan the Clubman.
1997 Rd 7 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 - Star Tips: Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 Rd 10 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 Rd 11 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 Rd 16 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 Rd 16 - Diesel chaired off by Sticks & Rhino.
1997 Rd 16 - Diesel chaired off by Sticks & Rhino.
1997 Rd 17 - Luke O'Sullivan handballs.
2000 - O'Sullivan in mediation talks (09/08/00).
1993 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1994 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1987 U/19 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1992 Rd 17 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1992 Rd 17 - Luke O'Sullivan streams towards goal.
1991 Rd 6 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1994 1st Semi - Andrew McKay & Luke O'Sullivan in a tussle.
1993 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1991 Rd 21 - Luke O'Sullivan.
1997 Rd 3 Luke O'Sullivan Being Chaired Off After His 50th Game.