Michael Osborne

Victorian Football League:

Michael Osborne (born 29 July 1982) is a retired Australian rules footballer who served as a development coach with the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). in 2014 and 2015 before opening The Australian Rules Football College (ARFC) with premiership teammate Brad Sewell. ARFC combines tertiary study with football development and strength & conditioning training out of their elite facility in Steel St North Melbourne.

In 2016, he was assistant coach at Balwyn in the EFL where the club won their 4th premiership in 5 years under the tenure of Daniel Donati.

Drafted as a forward/midfielder Osborne started his career with Hawthorn out of the back pocket when opportunity arose with an unfortunate injury to previous number 7, Luke McCabe. As a tough shut down defender Osborne's natural competitiveness came to the fore. Charged with the responsibility of defending the opposition's most dangerous small forwards, his first few seasons saw him battle out with great players such as Phil Matera, Alan Didak, Jeff Farmer, Stephen Milne and Aaron Davey, being very successful at keeping them quieter than usual. He was regarded as a medium size midfielder that had sure hands for strong marking overhead and was capable of pulling down some spectacular high flying marks. As with most Hawks of the era, Osborne's aggressive and hard approach to the game meant he was winning the ball in contests or putting the opposition under extreme physical pressure. Ball in hand he was a quick decision maker and used it well, especially by foot. His best season was the 2008 Premiership season where he finished 5th in the Peter Crimmins Medal and was a major contributor in the Grand Final with 26 possessions. In 2012 Osborne suffered a serious knee injury, tearing his LCL and ACL in a collision against Melbourne in RD 7. He missed the rest of the season after reconstructive surgery not to return until RD 4 in 2013. Osborne retired from playing at the end of the 2013 season, spending his entire career with the Hawthorn Football Club, playing 168 games and kicking a total of 110 goals. Fun Fact! In RD 19 2011, Osborne kicked his 100th goal in his 150th game v Fremantle at Paterson Stadium. Fun Fact #2! Osborne is the only player to play in both of Box Hill Hawks' VFL premierships in 2001 & 2013.

Recruited from Labrador, Queensland, Osborne debuted for Hawthorn Football Club in 2001 after being elevated from the rookie list. While only playing three games in his first two seasons, since 2003 Osborne has been a regular selection when not injured. A versatile player Osborne can play as a small defender, midfielder or forward. Straight-ahead type with an aggressive streak and ability to fly for a big mark and kick spectacular goals. In 2005, he was awarded the club's 'defensive pursuits player of the year'. In 2008 Osborne played in 20 of the 22 home-and-away games, and was part of Hawthorn's premiership team.