He told PortAdelaideFC.com.au that the opportunity to become one of Port Adelaide’s core midfield/defenders is what drives him to improve his football craft.

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Selected with pick 52 in the 2010 National Draft, O’Shea played eighteen games in his debut season.

Kicking off his AFL career against then-reigning premiers Collingwood with fellow re-signing Jasper Pittard, O’Shea is highly regarded by the club’s football department for his elite running ability.

But the 20-year-old acknowledges he has a long way to go particularly after being hindered by injury mid-way through the season.

“I suffered a stress fracture in my foot and it was a bit hard to deal with at the start,” O’Shea told PortAdelaideFC.com.au

“I’ve never been in rehab before at all so getting used to that was a little bit of a challenge and something that I strive to set goals for each week and try to accomplish.

“Now I’m just really looking forward to pre-season.”

[ Related: O'Shea profile ]

Signing with the club that gave him his opportunity in the AFL was not a hard decision for the native Victorian who says that his places a high importance on building his body and skills in a strong pre-season.

However for O’Shea, the most important thing is that he takes steps towards becoming the running midfielder the club wants him to be.

“It wasn’t hard for me at all,” he said of signing his contract extension.

“I just really want to have a good pre-season and cement a spot in the team and get as many games as I can.”

“But I have to take it game-by-game.”

“I’m only twenty and still learning.”

“To learn the structures more and try and implement them as much as I can so that I can compete and play my role - they’re my goals.”