O'Bree comes a long way

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Is it any wonder Collingwood veteran Shane O'Bree has a soft spot for the young draftees from interstate that arrive at the Lexus Centre each season.

After all not many experienced players in the AFL know more about the perils of homesickness, after being forced to go interstate as a result of the national draft, than the Magpies' experienced midfielder.

O'Bree was taken at pick 10 by the Brisbane Lions in the 1997 national draft but lasted just two years up north before moving back to his native Victoria to join Collingwood in 2000.

Now, some eight years later the 29-year-old is poised to bring up his 200th AFL game (19 with Brisbane and 181 with Collingwood) when the Magpies take on St Kilda in Friday night's blockbuster at Telstra Dome.

O'Bree can hardly believe how much his football life has changed as a result of his move and has no regrets - even though he could have been part of the Lions' three premiership winning sides of 2001-03 had he stayed up north.

Instead he is still searching for his first premiership medal, having been part of Collingwood's 2002 and 2003 grand final teams that lost to Brisbane.

But O'Bree wouldn't change a thing.

"I have been very lucky along the way," he said on Wednesday.

"After starting off in Brisbane and playing two years up there I was very lucky Collingwood picked me up and I was able to come back to Victoria."

"And how it's worked out since, I wouldn't have dreamt it."

O'Bree, who is originally from Beaufort just near Victoria's third largest city Ballarat, says he feels for young players that are forced interstate because of the draft at such a young age.

"I was always homesick in Brisbane, it was good to come back to Victoria and as soon as I got back to Victoria I enjoyed my football more."

O'Bree's defection was one of the key examples Brisbane always used in its argument to be allowed to have a higher salary cap - in order to give them a better chance of retaining homesick players - but surprisingly the Magpies' veteran does not believe the new Gold Coast club - to be introduced in 2011 - will have any problems attracting and retaining key players from more traditional football states such as Victoria.

"I don't think so - just the mention of the words Gold Coast and a lot of guys' eyes light up with the thought of playing in the sunshine and playing footy up there."

"But I always wanted to come home - it's up to the individual how they cope with their homesickness and the Collingwood boys we have got at the moment from interstate I always feel for them, knowing how hard it is."

Despite now joining the AFL's 200 club and being one of the most consistent players at the league's highest-profile club - O'Bree has always maintained a low-profile and that is just the way he likes it.

"I never wanted a high profile from day one," he said.

"I always just wanted to play my football and enjoy it, get the most out of myself and be a good team player and have success as well."

"Brisbane supporters ask me all the time if I have regrets (about missing the Lions' premiership teams) but I don't regret anything."