Taken with Pick 28 in the 2012 national draft, it was clear what the Hawthorn recruiters saw in an 18-year-old Tim O’Brien.

Standing at 193cm tall, or six-foot-four in the old, O’Brien possesses a clean pair of hands, a neat kick and deceptive pace.

But his seven seasons at the Hawks have seen the South Australian constantly yo-yoing between the AFL and VFL sides.

Lachie Whitfield, Nick Vlastuin and Jack Macrae all emerged from the same draft class as O’Brien and have all surpassed the 120-game threshold.

The Hawks’ number 23 played his 50th game on the weekend, and, as O’Brien starts to look increasingly comfortable at senior level, the milestone provided an opportunity for retrospect.

Read: The inconsistency explained

Speaking to Sportsday SA on Monday, O’Brien cited two key reasons for the fickle start to his career.

“Inconsistency is probably the main one,” the 25-year-old said.

“It has probably come from a bit of a lack of self-belief as well.

“Sometimes I haven’t backed myself in to do what I know I am good at the top level.

“That’s what I’ve worked on in the last 12 months and it’s been a lot better this year, I’ve played some better footy.”

One element that certainly hasn’t hindered O’Brien’s development is the guidance of four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson who the defender says he has the ultimate respect for.

“You know where you sit with him, which is good.

“But he is also very supportive and if you’re doing things well, he will certainly let you know.”

Initially assigned to the forward line when he arrived at the Ricoh Centre, O’Brien has since made a move to defence where he says he feels more comfortable.

His 16 disposals against the Tigers on Sunday was his best performance of the season.

“I played a lot as a forward early on as a forward, but I guess I found it hard to be consistent with the role I was playing down there.

“But, since going back, I’ve found it a bit easier to get that consistency, be able to read the play and use my attributes down there.

“If I get a run and jump at the footy, I think I can be pretty effective.”

With the Hawks’ defensive line continuing to take on a new look, O’Brien will be one that Hawks fans continue to keep a close eye on.