Harry O'Brien Biography

Harry O'Brien says a fiery exchange between him and Cat Tom Hawkins was just on-field banter.

Reports have surfaced that O'Brien had called Hawkins a "f***ing f**got", a claim which O'Brien denies.

"Just to clear something up..Id never resort to a homophobic slur..for those wanting to know, I said fat f$@k..simply some onfield banter," O'Brien tweeted to his 44,000 followers.

He continued: "there was a lot of passion in that game & things did get heated...there was 2 way banter...Just what you expect in the heat of the battle."

After declining to join the leadership group during the pre-season, Harry O'Brien rejoins the group four games in saying he is now in a better state of mind.

"I have put my hand up to be back in the leadership group because the darkest times are behind me. I feel better. A weight has been lifted off my shoulders," O'Brien said.

"I'm happy and I have found some inner peace after some turmoil. As a result, I am enjoying my football a lot more and everything about my life a lot more."

Harry O'Brien says Australians should be more appreciative of life after witnessing a murder in Brazil in 2011.

"Christmas Day 2011, I watched someone get murdered," O'Brien said on SEN radio.

"Just coming back to Australia after Christmas, and seeing the contrast in life, and people complaining about the pettiest things, I just lost so much faith in the world really."

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says Stephen Milne needs to take responsibility for his homophobic slur towards Harry O'Brien.

"The players are under enormous pressures, but you do still have a choice on what you say and how you react," Watters said.

"So Stephen's choice of vocab was poor. You need to be disciplined, you need to be controlled, and it's not about laying blame at the doorstep of someone else."

St Kilda's Sam Fisher says teammate Stephen Milne is remorseful for his homophobic comment directed at Harry O'Brien.

"Milney's a very resilient character and he's been through a lot throughout his career so there's no doubt he's very sorry for what he said," Fisher said.

"In this day and age, it's unacceptable and the club's made a strong stance on what was said but 'Milney' is a very strong character and he'll obviously be sorry for what he said but he'll bounce back and be a better person and he'll play some good footy for us for the rest of the year I'm sure."

St Kilda fine small forward Stephen Milne $3000 for his homophobic remark against Collingwood's Harry O'Brien.

"It has been confirmed that Milne made an inappropriate homophobic comment towards O'Brien during the course of play in last weekend's AFL round 19 match at the MCG which has breached the AFL Players' Code of Conduct and the AFL's Policy on Discrimination and Vilification," the Saints said.

"As a consequence of this breach, Milne will be sanctioned $3000 by the St Kilda FC and be required to undertake an AFL Education Program to address the inappropriate nature of his comments."

The AFL opens an investigation into an exchange between St Kilda's Stephen Milne and Collingwood's Harry O'Brien during their round 19 clash.

The AFL's integrity officer, Brett Clothier, has interviewed players and officials this week following a report of the incident by field umpire Dean Margetts.

On the eve of his 150th game, Harry O'Brien says he knew that AFL was to be his future after turning 14.

"My dream started to become a reality when I got to about 14 or 15 and I knew I'd become an AFL footballer," O'Brien said.

"I knew it was my destiny. I saw the impact someone can have when they're in the spotlight. I knew my biggest passion beyond football was being able to help other people, and that's why I was so driven."

Premiership defender Harry O'Brien says he wants to play out his career with Collingwood, even if that means getting less money.

"I know that it will be at a price. There are players who could go elsewhere, make a move, and most players make a move to gain more money," O'Brien said.

"I know that could be the case if I was to make a move but I want to spend my whole football career at Collingwood and I plan to do so."

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien says he feels more pity than anger for the fan who racially abused Gold Coast's Joel Wilkinson.

"You may have anger [initially] … but trying to fight that back with more anger results in nothing," O'Brien said.

"[Joel and I] both feel really sorry for a person of this level of awareness and ignorance. It's really unfortunate to be that way."

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien says he avoided criticism directed at him by the media over the opening three rounds.

"I didn't read anything but I was aware. Family and friends said, 'Are you OK?', so I assumed something was written about me," O'Brien said after a win over Port Adelaide.

"Journalists … good luck to them. They're putting food on the table for their families and that's what they get paid for.

"I don't know who wrote it or what was said but hopefully I can string a few good performances together and they can write something positive about me."

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien has suffered a freak accident, putting his hand through a pane of glass that will cause him to miss the Magpies' NAB Cup opener.

Harry O'Brien has become a People of Australia Ambassador after being nominated by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

"Harry has stepped forward already and involved himself in this work, reaching out to our multicultural communities informed by his own life experiences," Gillard said.

"He can be an incredibly powerful combination of sport and community; our sporting stars all working together using kids' natural love of sport (and) natural idolising of sporting stars to give them a helping hand and bring them into the life of our community."

Magpies skipper Nick Maxwell is the team's most important player according to teammate Harry O'Brien.

"His knowledge of the game plan and the way the coaching panel want us to play is by far the best out of any player in the team," O'Brien said.

"Contrary to a lot of external opinions and the question of whether he's in our best 22, for me, playing alongside him, he's our most important player."

Collingwood star Harry O'Brien says that football helped him cope with his identity issues when he first arrived in Australia.

"I found huge trouble fitting in and had huge identity issues because the other kids didn't look like me,'' O'Brien said.

"They would ask me why I was different and why my mum spoke with an accent.

"These are the issues which were negative impacts on my life early, but as I grew older I realised that these are things I should be proud of. During those tough times as a kid something I could retreat to, that transcended these differences was football."

Harry O'Brien has had a severe reaction to antibiotics that could have been life-threatening after getting treatment for a wound on his finger after a marking contest.

"It was an open wound they stitched me back up and gave me some antibiotics that I had a reaction to and I went into anaphylactic shock," he said.

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien has been moved by a stirring address by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in their meeting on Thursday.

"Living in Melbourne, which is very diverse, I've dedicated a lot of my time to bringing people together from all walks of life, and hearing His Holiness's answer just reaffirmed to continue on that path," O'Brien said.

"It also told me to ensure that this generation, my generation, handles the future responsibly."

All Australian Harry O'Brien has committed to a one-year contract extension, tying him to Collingwood until the end of the 2012 season.

"It's very exciting and also a bit of a relief, because I can put that behind me and really concentrate on the on-field stuff in 2011," O'Brien said.

"I want to play my football at the Collingwood Football Club. We have an opportunity here and we all feel it...we can have sustained success."

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien says he has put aside all his personal goals to help the Pies win a flag in 2010.

"All I want to do is play my role for the team and I've erased all of my personal goals - I want to be as selfless as I can for the team and I don't judge my game on possessions," he said.

O'Brien had to go through a personal tragedy in 2009 but still managed to perform despite this.

"I had a really difficult year last year - it was the toughest year of my life and I managed to get through and play the best football of my career," he said.

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien has appealed for everyone to treat troubled Mathew Stokes as a human being after the Geelong forward was charged with trafficking cocaine.

"Through his own choices he has placed himself in this situation. A situation which occurs frequently everyday in our country and around the world," O'Brien wrote on the AFL Players Association website.

"Mathew Stokes inherited the tag of being a role model when he entered the AFL. However he is still a human being."

"I would much rather focus on how to be proactive in the prevention of drug abuse and trafficking that affects the masses, than being reactive to one isolated incident."

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien stole the show at the Copeland Trophy with a heartfelt speech about his tough year following the death of his stepfather, Ralph, at the start of the season.

"There were times this season when I'd lock myself into the toilets and start crying," O'Brien said.

"I didn't really get a chance to reflect on how tough a season it's been and just thinking about it right now, I've learnt so much this season and this has been a bad year.

"I can't wait til a good year."

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien senses he is about to witness up close the start of a memorable career for Melbourne forward Jack Watts in his debut game.

"I actually look forward to seeing him out there, because from all reports he's going to be a great player,'' O'Brien said.

"I feel privileged to be playing in the first game he plays - good luck to him, I wish him all the best.''

COLLINGWOOD has given Harry O'Brien an indefinite leave of absence after the sudden death of his beloved stepfather Ralph.

Harry O'Brien says Heath Shaw and Alan Didak have done enough over the AFL off-season to earn back the players' respect.