Arthur O'Bryan
Fitzroy
AFL career
46 games29 goals
- Debut
- R9 1942 v COL4 July 1942
- Most recent
- R4 1946 v CAR11 May 1946
Stats
Bio
Hailing from the tiny Mallee township of Chinkapook, Arthur O'Bryan arrived at Fitzroy during the height of the Second World War, balancing his early football career with active service as a Gunner in the Australian Army. He established himself as a reliable defensive utility, capable of playing tall at full-back—a trait that occasionally allowed legendary captain-coach Fred Hughson to be released into the forward line—or providing drive from the flanks. His crowning moment came in 1944, where he lined up on a half-back flank in the Grand Final against Richmond, helping the Gorillas secure what would become their final VFL premiership. While his career at Brunswick Street was relatively brief, concluding after the 1946 season, O'Bryan remains immortalised as a member of that historic wartime flag side.
Profile
- Born
- 20 May 1923
- Died
- 09 Dec 1990 (aged 67y 203d)
- Birthplace
- Nyarrin, VIC
- Deathplace
- Finley, NSW
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 83 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership1944
Bio
1 revisionHailing from the tiny Mallee township of Chinkapook, Arthur O'Bryan arrived at Fitzroy during the height of the Second World War, balancing his early football career with active service as a Gunner in the Australian Army. He established himself as a reliable defensive utility, capable of playing tall at full-back—a trait that occasionally allowed legendary captain-coach Fred Hughson to be released into the forward line—or providing drive from the flanks. His crowning moment came in 1944, where he lined up on a half-back flank in the Grand Final against Richmond, helping the Gorillas secure what would become their final VFL premiership. While his career at Brunswick Street was relatively brief, concluding after the 1946 season, O'Bryan remains immortalised as a member of that historic wartime flag side.