Opinion Harry O'Brien: what to do?

[Number 10]

Re: Obrien: what to do?

Your thread is asking for possible solutions, not more knockers (not that I've got anything against knockers) so here's a left-field, possible solution. Play him in a shutdown/tagging role on Dangerfield. He's got the pace, body strength and stamina to go with Dangerfield, and he'll get taken to the play without having to read it himself. Let's face it we don't have anyone holding down the role of stopper and if we don't stop Dangerfield he'll tear us a new one. Harry's not giving us much bang for our buck in his current role, so why not give it a try, we just might see him played back into form.
Before you all start slagging this idea off, at least it's a better answer to this thread than "we can't afford to drop him so we'll just put up with him until we can".

This is the post I was looking for. A bit of creativity is nice for once... Even though no1 at collingwood would read these it's good to have a crack at what could happen. I like the idea but I think beans would be better in the role because he is just as damaging as dangerously going the other direction.

For those saying obrien was never a good 1on1 player, I distinctly remember him in his 2009-2010 years never being beaten by his man. He has definitely dropped off in this area and by quite Alot.

 

[Paul.]

Re: Obrien: what to do?

Think we need to lay off Harry. Before you go about dropping him, ask who realistically you would replace him with? There is no one.

He'll get better, he's a good player. I don't think he's walking around the club thinking his shit doesn't stink. If the team puts more pressure upfield it will help all of our defenders. Bucks hasn't mentioned him so he's doing something right.

As the old saying goes...

Go Harry!

 

[Markfs]

Re: Obrien: what to do?

This is the post I was looking for. A bit of creativity is nice for once... Even though no1 at collingwood would read these it's good to have a crack at what could happen. I like the idea but I think beans would be better in the role because he is just as damaging as dangerously going the other direction.

For those saying obrien was never a good 1on1 player, I distinctly remember him in his 2009-2010 years never being beaten by his man. He has definitely dropped off in this area and by quite Alot.

Yes, good creativity. We should try a player who is down on confidence, on the hottest player in the league. Of course, Harry doesnt have the tank to run in the midfield and I doubt he has the speed off the mark. But we should try him in a new role right now....its good timing..

 

[Heater39]

Harry used to be a great stopper but since he's added some run and rebound his defence seems to have suffered. Maybe give him an opponent (Porplyzia maybe?) and tell him hos number 1 priority is to stop his man. Getting the ball comes second.

 

[Lord of the Pies]

Needs to make his opponent his first priority, he seems to be minding space.
And he also needs some more aggression, his opponents need to earn their possessions. Get Denis Banks down to training he could run a master class in aggressive footy.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Re: Obrien: what to do?

I agree. He has to go. The Lama and the hair....more than enough reasons..

My comments were in response to a post suggesting that Harry did not seem like a natural footballer, and I was agreeing that their were elements to his game and missing from his game that supported this idea.

However, there was no suggestion that O'Brien should be dropped or that he is not entitled to pursue his own interests. Besides, there is no suitable replacement. As an old hippy, I have no issue with O'Brien's extra-curricula pursuits. If we had a full list of players, time in the VFL would be an option.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Needs to make his opponent his first priority, he seems to be minding space.
And he also needs some more aggression, his opponents need to earn their possessions. Get Denis Banks down to training he could run a master class in aggressive footy.

Remember his hit on Rhys-Jones that earned him four weeks?

 

[Didak Wine]

Re: Obrien: what to do?

Staying on topic wheres caolan mooney? Off topic, play harry up forward, if he starts to levitate in his prayer, kick it to him

 

[Number 10]

Re: Obrien: what to do?

Yes, good creativity. We should try a player who is down on confidence, on the hottest player in the league. Of course, Harry doesnt have the tank to run in the midfield and I doubt he has the speed off the mark. But we should try him in a new role right now....its good timing..

Umm, Harry is in the top 4 runners every game in terms of distance covered.....

 

[magman29]

Geez, I bet Chris Dawes is loving Harry being the whipping boy now.. next

 

[orion21]

Re: Obrien: what to do?

NO way would I want Sinclair in Defense, He would turnover the Ball way too much.

How about putting O'Brien on the Wing

A good discussion is harry at moment. Some real good points as to where he plays. Firstly we cannot afford to drop him to get form in vfl especially with so many key backman out. I think harry on a wing would be ideal to get confidence back in him.. He is a very good runner and would run both ways all day. He is a long kick and loves to run and carry so getting it from wing to the hot spot 30 mtrs out would be no worry for him. He has got a defensive mindset so he would accountable and perhaps not as nervous 1 on 1 away from goal. We need this guy up and going second half of year to be a threat for getting near top 4 considering our hard draw. So games against crows(very hard) suns and demons will be a good test and also experiment for harry to get his mojo back. C'mon harry........we need you

 

[stui magpie]

I agree with Dave about Harry, if in doubt stick him on the wing. He's creative and a play maker, he's lost his mojo on how to play 1 on 1 but can get it back if he isn't played on munchkins. He's getting turned inside out playing on small forwards.

 

[Soul_Pie]

Harry isn't an issue in my view, he's been alright this season, not stellar but we know he can improve.

Didak is the biggest concern at the moment, if he continues to shirk contests then he shouldn't be getting a game at VFL level.

 

[magpielicious]

First off he needs to chop of that hair !

Second, he needs to forget his opponent and just watch the ball. If you look at all the best backmen, they read the play (watch the ball) more than worrying about their direct opponent. When the balls coming in, don't try and block the opposition forward, attack the ball as though you are the forward, or fist it away.

Pretty basic actually

 

[Number 10]

First off he needs to chop of that hair !

Second, he needs to forget his opponent and just watch the ball. If you look at all the best backmen, they read the play (watch the ball) more than worrying about their direct opponent. When the balls coming in, don't try and block the opposition forward, attack the ball as though you are the forward, or fist it away.

Pretty basic actually

Well with respect, it's not that simple if you want to be a good defender because their are two things all defenders needs to do. Yes, having your eye on the ball is always the best thing. But you always need to have contact with your player because (and especially at the elite level) the ball will hardly ever be kicked to the advantage of the defender, which is what you seem to be inferring. He seems to actually have a good read of the ball but is at the moment always losing his opponent!! Which is the easiest thing not to do!! Just keep a han on him.

I'm not having dig, just think that there is a little more to it than just reading the ball.

 

[Go_Brad_Dick]

I think AFL and Collingwood are fortunate to have Harry representing the sport.
Bring back Leon Davis, we were lucky to have him too.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I think AFL and Collingwood are fortunate to have Harry representing the sport.
Bring back Leon Davis, we were lucky to have him too.

Your Dick was also inspirational when he was up and going.