nicholas o'brien (born 26 june 1993) is a former professional australian rules footballer who played for the essendon football club in the australian football league (afl). he attended st patrick's college in ballarat. in 2011, he captained the st patrick's schoolboy side to a victory in the mcc herald sun shield he was recruited by essendon with the 59th overall pick in the 2011 national draft. he made his debut in round 22, 2012, against at the melbourne cricket ground.