Phil O'Brien

Recruited from Donald in country Victoria, Phil O'Brien was a clever and elusive forward who became a constant threat for Hawthorn during the 1950s. Standing at 175cm, he was a classic pocket rocket who relied on speed, agility, and sharp positional play to hit the scoreboard rather than brute strength. O'Brien toiled through the club's lean years but etched his name into folklore during Round 17, 1957, when he booted a match-winning six goals against Essendon to seal Hawthorn’s first-ever VFL finals berth. While he retired as a player before the club’s maiden flag, his influence extended well beyond his playing days; he stayed on as John Kennedy Snr’s assistant coach, playing a pivotal off-field role in the historic 1961 premiership triumph. A Life Member of the club, O'Brien is remembered as a vital bridge between the Hawks' struggling early years and their golden era.