Harry O’Brien announced himself as one of the competition’s elite defenders with an outstanding 2010 season in which he played every game and earned his first All Australian guernsey to go with the premiership medallion. He averaged career-high kicks per game (10.2), had the third-most running bounces in the competition and the second-most rebound 50s at the club, highlighting his ability to start many of the team’s attacking forays. Has now played 86 consecutive AFL matches, a testament to his durability.
Highlights
Round 1 v Bulldogs: Had his first ever three-vote Brownlow performance in the opening round triumph over the Bulldogs with 25 touches, nine marks and eight bounces.
Round 15 v Port: Played very well in his 100th game for Collingwood, in what turned out to be a memorable come-from-behind victory for the Magpies.
Grand Final Replay v St Kilda: O’Brien’s celebration following his long final quarter goal when he dropped to his knees in utter jubilation is one of the enduring images of the premiership triumph.
2010 AFL statistics
| G | K | H | D | M | G | R50 | T | C |
| 26 | 10.2/75.4% | 5.5/84.5% | 15.6/78.1% | 3.8 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 0.3 |
