"It was a mental thing over the last three or four years, just getting kicked back a few times from teams and rep squads just gave me extra motivation to get on an AFL list and prove them wrong," O'Neill said.
"I think I was equipped to handle that (missing out on Vic Metro) and moved on pretty quick and just focused on playing some good footy at Oakleigh, and just hoped the right people would see it and I'd get an opportunity.
"Getting drafted is obviously a pretty big step, but there's many more to go."