Bill O'Brien
Collingwood
AFL career
67 games0 goals
- Debut
- R1 1897 v STK8 May 1897
- Most recent
- R8 1901 v ESS8 June 1901
Stats
Bio
Bill O'Brien was a foundational piece of Collingwood's backline during the club's transition from the VFA to the newly formed VFL. Recruited from West Melbourne, the running half-back flanker established himself immediately in the inaugural 1897 season, renowned for his pace, aggression, and thumping kick out of defence. He formed a formidable partnership with centre half-back Jack Monohan, creating a barrier that was often cited as impenetrable for opposition forwards. O'Brien's tenure was not without drama; in 1898, he was briefly cleared to a junior club after missing matches without permission, only to be reinstated weeks later where he played a "perfect game" upon his return against Carlton. After losing form in 1901, he stepped down to captain the Collingwood Juniors, leaving a legacy as a high-performing pioneer of the Magpies' early years.
Profile
- Full name
- Bill E. O'Brien
- Born
- 23 Mar 1877
- Died
- 31 Mar 1942 (aged 65y 8d)
- Height
- 175 cm
- Weight
- 78 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBill O'Brien was a foundational piece of Collingwood's backline during the club's transition from the VFA to the newly formed VFL. Recruited from West Melbourne, the running half-back flanker established himself immediately in the inaugural 1897 season, renowned for his pace, aggression, and thumping kick out of defence. He formed a formidable partnership with centre half-back Jack Monohan, creating a barrier that was often cited as impenetrable for opposition forwards. O'Brien's tenure was not without drama; in 1898, he was briefly cleared to a junior club after missing matches without permission, only to be reinstated weeks later where he played a "perfect game" upon his return against Carlton. After losing form in 1901, he stepped down to captain the Collingwood Juniors, leaving a legacy as a high-performing pioneer of the Magpies' early years.