Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Craig O'Brien

Known as
Craig O'Brien

Born
3 March 1970 (age 55)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 175d
Last game: 30y 29d

Height and weight
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 89 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon; St. Kilda; Sydney

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 45, 12
St. Kilda: 28
Sydney: 5

Recruited from
Essendon (1993); St. Kilda (1996)

Family links
Ron O'Brien (Father)

Craig O'Brien

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
EssendonV/AFL1989-199121160.7667%11.434.383.572
St. KildaAFL1993-1995521162.2340%9.313.903.065
SydneyAFL1996-200041591.4461%6.512.713.074
V/AFL1989-1991, 1993-20001141911.6853%8.693.563.1611
Total1989-1991, 1993-20001141911.6853%8.693.563.1611

AFL: 10,066th player to appear, 2,098th most games played, 453rd most goals kickedEssendon: 953rd player to appear, 555th most games played, 364th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,399th player to appear, 309th most games played, 46th most goals kickedSydney: 1,270th player to appear, 395th most games played, 122nd most goals kicked

Craig O’Brien was a talented small forward who overcame a difficult start to his career to develop into a highly effective performer. That ‘difficult start’ involved making just intermittent appearances in three seasons (1989-91) with Essendon followed by a whole year in St Kilda’s reserves in 1992 after he crossed to that club. Following, that, his improvement was dramatic and lasting. Boasting pace, good skills, strength overhead and the ability to kick both long and accurately he played 52 games and registered 116 goals for the Saints from 1993 to 1995. Although his form dipped a little in his final season he proved that he still had plenty to give after crossing to Sydney in 1996. Between that year and 2000 he played 41 AFL games for the Swans and scored 59 goals. He was a member of the club’s 1996 grand final team but could not prevent a 43 point loss to North Melbourne.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.