This week will be the second one in a row that Collingwood’s Harry O’Brien will miss due to a raft of personal issues, and it seems from the outside that he’s struggling with them.
Playing football needs to take a back seat.
There are plans at this stage for him to return for the Round 17 clash next week, but why not give him a spell for a longer period? I am not convinced O’Brien missing just one more match, this week against Adelaide will benefit him and the club for the rest of the season, and most importantly O’Brien in the long term.
It looks like he may have resolved his differences with coach Nathan Buckley after the two had a verbal altercation last week.
That saw Harry storm away from a training session and seek a break up in Queensland, and even when he returned on Tuesday he was still agitated, but the club remain confident everything was back on track.
They also say he has an ankle injury, which is a major reason why he is also not playing at the moment.
With the finals just around the corner and O’Brien being so experienced and crucial to their line-up it would be a good idea if he remained on the sidelines until his ankle has recovered properly.
It’s impossible for any of us to imagine what Harry is going through presently as he battles a bout of depression and deals with being a witness to a fatal car accident in Brazil last year, when he was there on Holidays during Christmas.
It has obviously all got to him and he verbally lashed out at coach Nathan Buckley after the Collingwood players called teammate, Paul Seedsman Leso and Buckley asked O’Brien if he was alright with that.
It’s not a good look that the coach and a senior player have a verbal spat on the back of a terrible loss, but there was also some unfair criticism of O’Brien from certain sections of the media that he put himself before the team.
I don’t think that’s the case. There’s no doubt O’Brien has some strong views, which are vastly different to the majority of players in the competition and he hasn’t been afraid to express them.
He was very vocal in his criticism of Collingwood President, Eddie Maguire when he embarassed himself with his attempted joke linking King Kong and Sydney star Adam Goodes.
He also hasn’t been afraid to air his views on many off-field issues and has always impressed with his eloquence and somewhat left-of-centre thought processes.
He is a breath of fresh air and we need more players like him, but it’s also a team sport and every player has to be on the same page to acheive the ultimate success.
O’Brien’s on-field displays, when you consider the off-field and personal matters he’s been coping with, have been solid, but it would be a tall order for him to return so soon and play well.
Nathan Buckley has handled a crisis at his famous team well as usual, with superb composure ensuring this issue hasn’t got as badly out of hand as it threatened to. Maybe the club could take the attitude that if O’Brien is fit to play then being on the field is the best way to forget about these concerns engulfing him, but I think the Magpies need to tread carefully.
Harry has been through plenty in recent times. Let the wounds heal gradually.
Deep Thinker
Guest
Richard - Unless you know Harry personally you have no basis to make this statement. To say he's got a 'poor me' syndrome trivialises and disparages whatever it is he's going through. I hope he doesn't read these posts because comments like that are not going to help him. None of us are in a position to know what Harry needs or doesn't need, what the source of his problem is. Do you even know what his philosophical views or religious background is? Leave the poor guy alone. Comments like those are presumptious and disrespectful and I would not expect them to help the guy who, from the outside, appears to be in a fragile state.
Steve
Guest
Yes, the majority of sports fans are racist: good job you and ol' Harry are here to set them straight.
Aaron Fraser
Guest
As a fleeting AFL fan, I find his comments refreshing and honest. I can see how his direct and somewhat abrasive comments can get the majority of sports fans offside. Anyone that stands up for and abhors racism and any *ism in all of its forms and facets has my vote. Good on you Harry O'Brien. Stuff the haters.
NeeDeep
Roar Pro
Honestly, Harry just loves the spotlight - that's all. Somebody else needed a rest a few weeks back after some other controversy??? That was Eddie, wasn't it! Seems like a few people down at the Lexus Centre like being the centre of attention!!! Like Red said - let's move on (quickly).
Steve
Guest
Some people don't want to convert the world or make it better though: they just like letting everyone know they're better than them. They take offence on other's behalf, and revel in any personal crisis as justification for all sorts of attention seeking and damagingly self indulgent behaviour. We should give O'Brien the benefit of the doubt until we know the whole story, but I'd be lying if I said the thought of him being in that category hasn't crossed my mind.
VerbosityAbridged
Roar Rookie
If a bloke wants to devote his life to converting and saving the world? I'm not sure playing AFL at the same time is the answer.
Walt
Guest
Dont need a whole article, I'll summarise it in a long sentence. They played embarrassing, boring football at a stadium that nobody really likes going out to in time-slots least desired.
Richard
Roar Guru
I see your talent for spouting tiresome, inflammatory, inaccurate drivel hasn't deteriorated in your retirement Mr Howard. Glad to see you're still putting your best foot forward.
Richard
Roar Guru
And I agree with Buckley. Let's not dwell too much on this. There's a premiership to be won.
Richard
Roar Guru
The things Harry said were impacting his psyche sound really grotesque, but serious as they are, there are plenty of people in the world who have seen or heard horrible things in their lives and had to move on. Many of those currently in our immigrant detention camps would certainly qualify, and not many of them are getting any attention at all. Harry's got an established career, a significant salary, the love and respect of friends and public, and the support of a very large and successful football club to help him cope. Without detracting from the things Harry has seen or heard about, I do think he's a sensitive sole who needs a rock in his life. Footy can be a useful salve, but he needs something deeper and more meaningful. A philosophy, a religion, a life partner, he needs something more. Doing something for others is a good start. Helping those who don't get any help at all provides purpose in life, put one's own cares in perspective, and hopefully restores a sense of purpose and equilibrium. Helps to get over the "poor me" syndrome.
Redb
Roar Guru
I would prefer an article on why Port Adelaide fans deserted their club in recent years.
Franko
Guest
You heard the man Mr Lonegran. An article on the Essendon doping scandal please!
Redb
Roar Guru
Sick of hearing about this topic, move on.
Johnny Howard
Guest
Shmick whilst I accept your opinion, I respectfully disagree. Dans job is to comment on the situation from a sports journalists perspective and not to assess Harry's situation alone, but rather the situation of the whole Collingwood football club, which appears to be in trouble.
Shmick
Guest
It's good that we have learned professionals like Dr Lonergan to tell us how Harry O'Brien's mental health situation should be handled. Mental health is a very simple matter that is best handled by pseudo-journalists and football club medicos. He probably just needs an extra long sleep-in and exaggerated praise from those around him.