Harry O’Brien’s immediate AFL future is unclear, although Collingwood teammate Travis Cloke is confident he will soon be back at the club.
Amid ongoing speculation about a rift with coach Nathan Buckley, O’Brien spent the weekend in Port Douglas with the club’s permission.
The All-Australian defender was ruled out of Friday night’s win over Collingwood with an ankle injury.
It also emerged last Thursday night that O’Brien and Buckley had a disagreement during the week.
Buckley has not denied the speculation, but repeatedly said over the weekend he would not publicly discuss any in-house issues at Collingwood.
O’Brien was due back in Melbourne on Sunday to meet with club officials.
When asked on Saturday if O’Brien would be back at Collingwood on Monday, Buckley replied: “not definitely”.
But Cloke told Channel Nine’s Footy Show on Sunday that he had no doubt about O’Brien returning.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of ‘is his future at the Collingwood footy club up in the air’, I definitely think he’ll be back,” Cloke said.
“He was obviously a little bit injured with his ankle – that was the main reason he was missing.
“There was an incident last week, a few words were spoken about, but it’s a private conversation between the group that were there and also when he spoke to Bucks and the other powers (that) be at the football club.”
There are reports that O’Brien took issue with a comment that Buckley made at a team meeting.
Cloke was also asked if senior players such as himself could have handled their response better to what O’Brien had to say in that meeting.
“Oh definitely… hindsight’s a great thing,” Cloke said.
Shmick
Guest
Yep - more judgement without fact.
Franko
Guest
Wow after today's revelations, these comments look a little harsh.
dahawkacup13
Guest
Yeah, I have to agree. This is in poor taste of his own reputation, in the past he has come under scrutiny for vilifying others and yet the moment he feels entitled to 'make the headlines' he goes ahead and puts his own interests above his club's. Talk about double standards and talk about not caring about whether your club depends on you being a key part of their 22 best.. Even if he were injured, it's not an excuse to take a holiday and be absent from supporting the playing group.
langou
Roar Guru
Nope
Ash of Geelong
Guest
He is a SOOK and doesn't mind vilifying people by calling them fat, someone should give him a tissue and send him on his way.
Norm
Guest
actually it is said to be about a gay marriage comment.....bizarre!
Franko
Guest
Nothing to do with the King Kong comments?
A Mans Not A Camel
Guest
Oh - remember a few weeks ago, the rumour of Krakouer walking out on the pies? How'd that story turn out? Media beat-up BS, that's how. The media see's a players not at a pies meeting, all of a sudden there has to be a rift, Buckley's had an argument, there's been a walk-out, the pies are accumilating weapons of mass destruction... Grow up media.
A Mans Not A Camel
Guest
Yes, exactly. My personal opinion? Media beat-up. Everyone knows you either support the pies, or you hate the pies, and so much of the media is in the latter group, and whilst a lot do a great job of 'editing' their pieces to appear neutral, there is always a perception of the negative in there somewhere. The fact is, the Pies continued on their same pattern of playing that has been this season - a good win after a bad loss, no two losses in a row. If there are so-called "insiders" - how about they come out on record and then the truth can be obtained. My guess is - they never will, because it's just the media trying to find a reason as to the pies see-saw form, and as with a lot of media, truth doesn't come into it unless you get found out. Perhaps Harry O had a few words with bucks...perhaps it was wth someone else. Perhaps he just wanted to have a relaxing weekend off at home. Prove your rumours or shut up about it.
Shmick
Guest
According to so called industry insiders there's a rift between Buckley and pretty much every senior player that Malthouse coached. If such rifts existed those players would not be playing for Buckley. Things looked pretty stable on Friday night. I'm gonna break protocol and pull a Twitter job here: #storminateacup #gopies #letsbackbucks #andymurrayyouchamp