Swans Hall of Famer Michael O’Loughlin has launched his book MICKY O. Hard work. Determination. And a little bit of magic. in front of a packed crowd in the Arthur Morris Room at the SCG today.

Joining O'Loughlin at the launch were a number of his teammates and coaches, including co-captains Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh, Swans Chairman Richard Colless, Chief Executive Andrew Ireland, board directors, members and supporters.

MICKY O tells the extraordinary story of a kid who combined his talent with sheer determination to become one of the greatest AFL players of the last two decades.

The book traces back O’Loughlin’s early life growing up in South Australia with his mum and five siblings all the way through to when he was drafted and his career in the red and white.

It was a career which spanned 15 years that included numerous awards and accolades and saw him earn the respect and admiration of the football world

“This is a magnificent book,” Swans chairman Richard Colless said at today’s launch.

“It’s far more than a typical ex-footballer’s story. The history of the O’Loughlin family tree in itself is enough to fill the book.”

Speaking at the book launch, his former coach Paul Roos couldn’t talk highly enough of O’Loughlin, his contribution to the Sydney Swans and what he achieved on and off the field.

Some of the on-field accolades include a premiership medal, being named in the Indigenous Team of the Century, receiving All Australian honours, winning a Bob Skilton Medal, becoming the first Swan to play 300 games and become the club’s highest goal scorer.

“Everyone wanted to be respected by Mick including his coaches,” Roos said.

“We wanted Mick to respect us and we wanted Mick to like us because he’s such a good guy.

“The great thing about Mick is when we would lose he would bounce in and he would get us up for the next week because he was such a positive person.

“He loved the game, he was a leader because he loved the game … he’s such a fantastic person, such a fantastic player and we’re just so, so lucky to have him as part of our footy club.”

Roos also spoke about the challenges Mick faced during his playing career to overcome a persistent knee injury that limited his training and saw him only start pre-season three weeks out from round one.

“That defines Mick O’Loughlin to me, one of the great half-forward, midfield types that was able to then turn himself into a power forward and we all know his performances in the ’05 and ’06 grand finals,” Roos said.

O’Loughlin said while he was initially reluctant to write the book “as I didn’t think anyone would want to read it” he couldn’t be happier with the process and final product.

He is particularly proud that his three children will get to read the book one day and that people will see “an Aboriginal face on the bookshelf”.

“I think [the book] is about all the people that I’ve met along the way and the impact they’ve had on my life,” O’Loughlin said.

“I mention Paul Roos, Rodney Eade and Ron Barassi in the book and those guys were three significant people … those three, along with all of the assistants, have been class acts and I’m very, very lucky to be able to come to a place like this.

“I’ve made some great friends along the way.”

MICKY O. Hard work. Determination. And a little bit of magic. can be purchased by clicking here.