BRAZILIAN-born defender Harry O'Brien will look back on his pivotal role in Collingwood's Anzac Day triumph over Essendon as a turning point in his AFL career.

Not only was the 20-year-old able to block out the nervous tension of the day and a 90,000-strong crowd, but he also shut down one of the AFL's most potent forwards.

O'Brien conceded Coleman medal pacesetter Scott Lucas 11kg and 4cm, but was able to keep him under wraps all day and goalless in the Magpies' 16-point victory.

"It certainly gives me a lot of confidence in the future, to know that I can play on players at his level," O'Brien said.

"It will obviously have a positive effect for the future for me.

"He's such a great player and growing up as an Essendon supporter I watched him a lot but you can't get overwhelmed with that, you've got to do the same processes you'd do with any other player."

Apart from the opening few minutes, Essendon never had a reliable route to goal and Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was unhappy O'Brien escaped any mention when the Anzac Medal votes were read out.

"It's a sad indictment on the football community sometimes when you overlook the work that's done against a bloke like Scott Lucas," Malthouse said.

But O'Brien was more focused on the direction the club has moved in, largely he says due to the faith Malthouse has placed in the young players.

"I think last year the reason we made a move up from 15th in 2005 (to seventh last year) was from the development of the younger players," O'Brien said.

"Mick's shown a lot of faith in the young players and he's picking the side purely on form and if the young players are in form then he's going to pick them.

"Like we've seen with young Shannon Cox and Heath Shaw, they're ready to play senior footy and they're making an impact.

"I think if we can keep getting that kind of contribution from the younger players, we're definitely heading in the right direction."

O'Brien was also quick to praise fellow defender James Clement, who directed the play in the absence of injured captain Nathan Buckley.

"Jimmy is sensational, he's one of the best players I've seen and to have him down in the backline next to you just giving orders is really helping young blokes," he said.

Despite his drawn-out hamstring worries, Buckley's presence at the club remained positive, O'Brien said.

"Just around the place he hasn't changed, he's always bubbly and he's so positive which is rubbing off on the younger players, to see a bloke who's gone through the hard yards," he said.

"To have him positive when the chips are down for him is showing us that he cares more about the team."