A St Paul’s McKinnon young gun has piqued the interest of a powerhouse VFL club

A fast start to the Southern league season for one of St Paul’s McKinnon’s finest young players has state league clubs knocking.

Impressed but not surprised.

While St Paul’s McKinnon coach Jason Heffernan was rapt Matt O’Brien’s performance on Saturday, he wasn’t overly shocked.

Heffernan believes the rover has “bigger and better things ahead of him”.

Those bigger and better things may occur as soon as this week, with Collingwood encouraging O’Brien to train with its VFL program.

Heffernan named O’Brien best afield in the Bulldogs’ 8.20 (68) to 8.12 (60) win over Port Melbourne Colts on Saturday as he believed it was an outing that displayed the young star’s versatility as a midfielder.

“It was probably a different game for Matt, there wasn’t a lot of free footy,” he said.

“He has always done well in terms of clearances and contested ball, but what he seems to be able to do is get not only those but get the balance on the outside as well.

“In my mind Sandy missed the boat, he was a contracted player last year and he didn’t get a contract this year, but he will start up with Collingwood this week.

“He has got bigger and better things ahead of him than St Paul’s, that’s for sure.”

Matt O’Brien. Picture: Valeriu Campan

When O’Brien didn’t make the Zebras’ list, the Bulldogs wasted no time in putting the feelers out.

“When he didn’t get contracted to Sandy, the calls went out,” he said.

“Collingwood sent someone down to have a look at him, which was great.

“With Collingwood, if they invite you, they see your potential, so if you’re invited, you’re apart of them whether you play or not.

“He’s had some interest from other stand-alone clubs, he never played in the (Sandringham) Dragons 16s or 18s, so he has really pushed his own barrow.

“Collingwood will be good for him for the rest of this year.”

St Paul’s McKinnon coach Jason Heffernan has high hopes for O’Brien. Picture: Valeriu Campan

By averaging over 30 disposals a game this season, Heffernan said the focus O’Brien is earning from respected opposition coaches is fast-tracking his growth.

“The guys we coach against put a lot of time into their opposition, Josh Caddy (Port Melbourne Colts), Steve O’Brien (Cranbourne), Des Ryan (Cheltenham) and Kris Thompson (Springvale Districts), they’ve had a lot of VFL experience,” he said.

“I think it’s really helping his development because they’ve all got to sit a good player on him and he’s still coming to the fore.”