O'Loughlin wins AFLPA's Madden Medal

Many newly-retired professional sportspeople hit a moment when they realise, with a
hollow feeling in their stomach, that their time has indeed passed.
AFL star Michael O'Loughlin is definitely not one of those lost sporting souls.

O'Loughlin was honoured on Friday for his distinguished service on and off the
field, winning the AFL Players' Association Madden Medal.
The AFLPA's executive voted for O'Loughlin ahead of a strong field of newly-retired
players that included Matthew Lloyd, Joel Bowden, Matthew Richardson and Tom Harley.
Not long ago, he saw Sydney coach Paul Roos hammering O'Loughlin's former team-mates
at pre-season training.
"I drove past the boys, Roosy was flogging them, I stuck my hand out the window,
gave them a wave and kept driving," O'Loughlin said with a grin.
"I'm pretty content with where I'm at, at the moment.
"My role now is obviously to expose some more indigenous people to the game and help
these young guys come through."
O'Loughlin noted in his acceptance speech at the awards lunch that "everything I
have is from football".
But the Swans forward has reciprocated.
O'Loughlin played a club-record 303 games, was a key member of Sydney's historic
2005 premiership and made two All-Australian teams.
Nicknamed Magic for his on-field feats, the much-respected indigenous player has
also worked hard in the community.
Apart from his heavy involvement in the indigenous community, O'Loughlin has helped
promote the game in the tough Sydney market.
He is now a part-time coach at the AFL Academy, along with Lloyd and Harley, and
will continue to focus on working with young indigenous players.
O'Loughlin was stunned to win the medal and said he thought Richardson would take it
out.
"It's an unbelievable field ... I'm in fantastic company and obviously extremely
lucky to win this," he said.
"I'm absolutely thrilled, that's for sure - it's fantastic."
O'Loughlin also won the Community Spirit Award, while Lloyd took out the Football
Achievement category.
The Personal Development Award went to Bowden, the AFLPA president.