CTV > Shane O'Bree's Wednesday press conference

IT IS not a new story, the story of a young boy from the country making good in the AFL.

In 1998, Shane O'Bree went from Beaufort – near Ballarat – to Brisbane as a first-round pick, and played there for a couple of years.

But the 'go-home' factor is always strong – we saw it again last season with Carlton skipper Chris Judd coming back to Melbourne from West Coast – and O'Bree was no different to most, and he went to Collingwood in the 2000 Pre-Season Draft.

"I've been very lucky along the way – starting off in Brisbane, playing two years up there, very lucky Collingwood picked me up and I was able to come back to Victoria. How it's worked out, I wouldn't have dreamt it," he said on Wednesday.

The Lions went on to win three flags in the years after O'Bree left, but the 29-year-old said he had nothing even approaching regret at the decision.

"No, definitely not. From day one in Brisbane I was always homesick, so it was good to come back to Victoria and be close to my family and friends.

"I enjoyed my football more as soon as I got back to Victoria because I didn't have any family or friends outside football [in Brisbane]. That was the main reason why I came back so there was no 'what if' or 'I could have won a premiership' or anything like that.

"I've always had a lot of Brisbane supporters ask me that, but nah – no regrets at all.

"I enjoyed my time at Brisbane, and enjoyed it more at Collingwood."

For a bloke about to join the exclusive 200-game club, O'Bree has managed to consistently fly under the radar, something he's very happy about.

"I didn't want a high profile – since day one I always just wanted to play good football and enjoy it, get the most out of myself, and be a good team-player and hopefully the team has success as well."

But for all his homesickness, O'Bree says the new Gold Coast franchise won't have any difficulty recruiting players from all over the country.

"I don't think so – you just mention the words 'Gold Coast' and I think a lot of the guys eyes will light up, with the sunshine, and playing footy up there.

"I don’t think they'd have any problem with it."