The Pinjarra Tigers’ clash with Centrals was a special one for the footy-mad O’Brien family on Sunday, with brothers Rory, Brock, Mackenzie and Josh all taking to the same field for their first ever match together.
The talented quartet have all walked different paths throughout their footballing lives, but those roads all led to Mundijong over the weekend with the brothers pulling on Tigers jumpers in the league side’s two-goal win.
Running out on the park with his siblings had been a while in the making according to Rory, but the WAFL legend said it was a humbling and special occasion for their family.
“It was sort of like we were kids in the back yard again, to be honest,” he said.
“It’s taken a fair while – we’ve all enjoyed footy in different ways throughout our lives but to finally be able to play together was really special.
“We’ve always wanted to play footy together and to have mum there to watch us and the rest of our families as well, it was big for us.”
The brothers have teamed up at Pinjarra from vastly different footy backgrounds in the last few years.
Mackenzie has been a regular at the Tigers for some time, having won multiple premierships in the black and gold, while Josh returned to the club this season following a lengthy stint away through injury.
Brock has just recently made his way back to the club’s home at Sir Ross McLarty Oval, following 149 games in the WAFL with Peel Thunder and East Fremantle.
The Sharks gun also spent time on the Fremantle Dockers’ list in the AFL.
Oldest brother Rory returned to the Tigers this off-season, following his retirement from the WAFL at the end of 2017.
The 244-game star won a Sandover medal with East Fremantle before returning to Peel Thunder, where he helped the club to a pair of premierships in his final two seasons.
Now, the four of them are doing what they can to help Pinjarra win back-to-back Peel Football and Netball League flags while enjoying their footy together.
“To be able to train two nights a week and then play together every weekend, I think that’s what’s enjoyable about it,” Rory said.
“The club’s doing great and it’s just a really good place to be around at the moment.”
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
