Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Jack O'Brien

Known as
Jack O'Brien

Born
17 August 1898

Died
30 May 1966 (aged 67)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 21y 258d
Last game: 29y 276d

Height and weight
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 85 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon; Footscray

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 7
Footscray: 10

Recruited from
Essendon (1928)

Jack O'Brien

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
EssendonV/AFL192014151.0729%0
FootscrayV/AFL19285122.4040%0
V/AFL1920, 192819271.4232%0
Total1920, 192819271.4232%0

AFL: 2,497th player to appear, 6,635th most games played, 3,138th most goals kickedEssendon: 315th player to appear, 623rd most games played, 367th most goals kickedFootscray: 80th player to appear, 786th most games played, 351st most goals kicked

Jack O’Brien commenced his senior football career by playing a single game with Footscray in the VFA in 1919 before crossing to VFL side Essendon the following year. After 14 games and 15 goals for the Dons he returned to Footscray, without receiving a clearance, in 1921, and went on to add 63 appearances and score 130 goals over the next four seasons. Most of his football was played as a highly productive and effective half forward. However, when Footscray migrated to the VFL in 1925 O’Brien found himself out in the cold because the fact that he had transferred to the Tricolours without a clearance meant he was liable to a three season suspension. He spent that period playing for junior and country clubs before resuming with Footscray in 1928. However, after playing just five games and booting 12 goals he returned to the VFA with Coburg where he saw out the season, making two appearances and scoring five goals.

The remainder of O’Brien’s playing career comprised stints at VFA clubs Williamstown (56 games, 92 goals from 1929 to 1933) and Brighton (28 games, 17 goals in 1933-4). He was Williamstown’s playing coach in 1930.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

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