Harry O'Brien
| Harry O'Brien | |||
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Heritier O'Brien | ||
| Date of birth | 15 November 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
| Original team | Claremont Football Club (WAFL) | ||
| Draft | #20, 2004 Rookie Draft, Collingwood | ||
| Height/Weight | 188cm / 92kg | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Collingwood | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2005– | Collingwood | 133 (15) | |
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1 Playing statistics to end of QF1, 2011 season .
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| Career highlights | |||
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Heritier "Harry" O'Brien (born 15 November 1986) is a professional Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.
He was born to a Brazilian mother and a Congolese father in Rio de Janeiro, and moved to Western Australia when he was 3 years old.[1] However he was raised by his Australian stepfather and was 19 years old when he found out about his biological father.[2] He supported the Essendon Bombers as a child, with his family owning a pet dog named Sheedy after the long-time Essendon coach, Kevin Sheedy.
The 187 cm O'Brien, who has played most of his football as a medium defender (in the style of James Clement), has the distinction of being the first Brazilian-born player in the Australian Football League.[3] He was picked up with pick 21 in the 2004 AFL Rookie Draft by Collingwood, and made his debut in Round 18 of 2005 against Fremantle at the MCG. He kicked a great goal against the Kangaroos shortly after his debut, and did enough to be retained on the rookie list. In 2006 Harry showed more improvement and was elevated to the senior list again during the year, this time due to the absence of Sean Rusling, playing a total of 9 games.
Coach Mick Malthouse at one point in an interview challenged the AFL's rules on rookies in response to not being able to permanently play O'Brien in the seniors on the basis of his excellent form.[4]
He was elevated to the senior list for season 2007. In 2008, he came 5th in the Copeland Trophy count, Collingwood's Best and Fairest.[5] In 2009, he came 4th in the Copeland Trophy.
He has played in numbers 43, 30 and his current number 8. In 2010 he has won his first All-Australian honour in the half-back flank. He was instrumental in Collingwoods's 2010 grand final replay win over St Kilda and kicked a long goal from the boundary line late in the game.
He went to school at Rossmoyne Primary from 1994–99, and also went to Rossmoyne Senior High School.
[edit] References
- ^ "African journey helps O'Brien". Realfooty.com.au. http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/african-journey-helps-obrien/2008/02/11/1202578694113.html. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
- ^ Warner, Michael (11 March 2009) Pies confirm tragic loss; Herald Sun
- ^ Walsh, Courtney (31 May 2008) Magpies Harry O'Brien defender a leader in the making
- ^ Boulton, Martin (11 May 2006) Give rookies a better go: Pies
- ^ Lane, Samantha & Gleeson, Michael (4 October 2008) Swan named Magpies' best
[edit] External links
- Harry O'Brien's AFL Profile on the Official AFL Website of the Collingwood Football Club
- Harry O'Brien's statistics from AFL Tables
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- Collingwood Football Club players
- 1986 births
- Living people
- All-Australians (AFL)
- VFL/AFL players born outside of Australia
- Australian people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
- Australian rules footballers from Western Australia
- Brazilian emigrants to Australia
- Australian people of Brazilian descent
