Harry's issues can't compromise Pies

Nathan Buckley and Harry O'Brien fell out after a throwaway comment. Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

NATHAN Buckley played hard ball on Harry O'Brien on Monday and then today put his arm around his troubled player.

Buckley knew more than everyone about O'Brien's past. "I knew from day dot,'' he said.

Still, Buckley laid down the law to O'Brien.

As a professional footballer, clubs demand standards and O'Brien needed to remember the team came first.

Yes, O'Brien has serious issues, but they can't compromise the footy club.

The six-day fiasco begun when O'Brien told the coach, and others, to "get f...ked'', on the back of a tongue-in-cheek question from Buckley.

Yesterday, this columnist told O'Brien he needed to harden up.

If it was known O'Brien was "going through a history ... of things for a long time, including a long and very complicated history of sexual abuse, suicide, depression, seeing someone get murdered, knowing that who murdered that person and not being able to say anything, knowing that person will probably murder you'', then clearly a different column would have been written.

O'Brien has asked for help and the media will give him space and respect, and the club will give O'Brien the support he needs.

Yes, O'Brien sooked it last week and stormed out.

Today, he offered a reason as to why his recent behaviour was erratic.

He needs understanding and good grace.

Still, it's been a curious week for O'Brien and Collingwood.

Last Thursday the club wanted to put out a press release, saying O'Brien was taking leave for personal reasons.

O'Brien refused to sanction it.

Late Monday, after Buckley had laid down the law to an apologetic O'Brien, the club again offered to explain to the public that O'Brien was dealing with personal issues.

Again, O'Brien refused the club permission.

Then today, O'Brien became obviously aware of public comment about the situation -- and the majority negative attitude towards him -- and chose to approach the media for a what we call a doorstop press conference.

The club, anxious ahead of Buckley's press conference at noon, was waiting for O'Brien inside the club and was not aware of what was being conducted outside.

Indeed, a lot of people at Collingwood weren't even aware of O'Brien's personal issues, namely sexual abuse and depression.

This columnist's inquiries with Collingwood people at the weekend certainly weren't met with a warning to "tread warily''.

Such a warning for journalists is Code Red for deeper, serious issues.

That the club wasn't allowed to release ''personal issues'' as an explanation, gave further credit that it was mainly a football issue and not a personal one.

Hence, the column to toughen up.

Hence, O'Brien's response this morning that he was "going through quite a tough time at the moment'' dealing with suicide, sexual abuse, depression and murder.

While O'Brien was congratulated on social media for his declarations this morning, his sudden need to present his situation without Collingwood's knowledge, further exasperated the club.

They want to help Harry, yet he is still acting rogue.

The fact is, as explained in today's Herald Sun, everybody has issues, some greater and some infinitely smaller than O'Brien's.

That doesn't excuse him telling the coach, fitness boss David Buttifant and football boss Geoff Walsh to "get f..ked'' and storming out.

As it is, the club won't or cannot penalise O'Brien in any shape or form for disrespecting the coach and senior club officials.

It would be deemed insensitive to O'Brien's predicament.

Indeed, O'Brien has to harden up it when it comes to his footy and his involvement with the Collingwood Football Club.

But he also needs our empathy when it comes to life.

It's a difficult balance for everyone involved.

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