Vale Dick O’Bree

1936-2024

Games 4 Goals 5

The Collingwood Football Club has been saddened by the news of the passing of former player Dick O’Bree.

The sadness is particularly acute because we visited Dick in his Euroa nursing home late last year, where he was able to hold the 2023 Premiership Cup.

Dick was a gun country full-forward who made a huge name for himself as a teenager in Euroa. Collingwood signed him for the 1953 season but he decided to stay at home instead and kicked 140 goals with Lake Boga. It was a similar story in the years that followed, the country star reluctant to come to the city.

He kept kicking plenty of goals, including bags of 16 and 18 in individual games, and nine in a local Grand Final. So there was huge excitement when he eventually arrived at Victoria Park for the 1956 season, still only 19 years old.

He kicked two goals in each of his first two senior games, his strong marking and long kicking already standing out. But after kicking a goal early in his third game, against Richmond, be badly broke his leg in a clash of bodies.

That injury all but ended his League career. He came back for the opening round of 1957 but headed back to Euroa soon afterwards, looking to rebuild his confidence. He mounted a further unsuccessful comeback attempt in 1958 before officially retiring from the VFL.

But he returned to country football, and his achievements there continued to mount up. Over a senior career that continued until 1971, Dick would end up kicking a staggering 1285 goals. He played in 10 senior premiership teams, and coached Euroa to seven flags. Even today he is still widely heralded as that club’s greatest and most influential figure.

The Board, management, staff, coaches and players of the Collingwood Football Club would like to acknowledge Dick O’Bree’s contribution to our footy club. Our thoughts are with his family and all his friends from Collingwood, Euroa and beyond.

Side by Side.

You can read Dick’s full story and the stats from his career, on 'Forever' here.