New Carlton draft pick Lochie O’Brien grew up a Collingwood fan, chose footy over athletics

LOCHIE O’Brien grew up a passionate Collingwood fan after his grandfather played one game for the Magpies in 1970. Now he’s have to be a true Blue after Carlton took him in Friday’s draft.

Lochie O'Brien receives a Carlton guernsey from coach Brendon Bolton on draft night. Picture: AAP

LOCHIE O’Brien’s grandfather regretted his decision.

In 1970, Denis O’Brien won Collingwood’s reserves best-and-fairest and the next year he made his VFL debut.

But after one game Dennis called it quits and returned to Greensborough, where he was later named in the club’s Team of the Century.

There was more money to be made as a mechanic than at the Magpies and the relaxed nature of beers flowing after games in Greensborough appealed.

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Lochie O'Brien receives a Carlton guernsey from coach Brendon Bolton on draft night. Picture: AAP

And so Lochie grew up a passionate Magpies fan until Friday night, when he joined archrival Carlton as its No. 10 pick — a selection received in the Bryce Gibbs trade.

Beating “Pop’s” games tally shouldn’t be too tricky for O’Brien, according to Geelong Grammar School football director Cameron Ling.

“He’s someone who suits the modern game really well with his running game,” Ling said.

“He’s an elite athlete, but he can use it and can kick goals. And he’ll always have the ability to run because he’s such a great athlete.

“Even if it’s a game he’s not finding a heap of the footy, he’ll still be really important to the coach’s structure with his movement.”

O’Brien chose footy over cross-country and athletics because he preferred the team environment.

O’Brien, right, with fellow Blues draftee Paddy Dow in Sydney.

But before that he ran 400m in about 49 sec at national level. went to Canada with an Australian youth development team and was Victoria’s 3km cross-country champion.

O’Brien wants to study aviation — model planes decorate his bedroom — and has arrived to help pilot the Blues’ rebuild.

Growing up O’Brien would eat dinner at Mildura airport three times a week, where mum worked as a flight attendant, dad worked as a baggage handler and grandfather worked managing Qantas link.

O’Brien’s 2017 never took off as he battled patella tendinitis and bone bruising in his knee.

He struggled to overcome the injury and struggled at Vic Country.

“I pretty much went six weeks of just playing games on weekends with no training during the week, just recovery,” he said.

O’Brien is all smiles at the AFL draft combine at Etihad Stadium. Picture: Jay Town

“I’d start running and it would just blow up like a balloon.”

But before that he was one of the hottest prospects, using footy grounds as his runway.

The Andrew Gaff-type won two league best-and-fairests in premierships years growing up and his bottom-age season was excellent.

“I’ve got a pretty good tank, bit of speed, and my left foot is pretty penetrating,” he said.