Tough Tag Man

The hard time DOB always gave Geelong's John Sharrock was recalled years later by the Herald's Mike Sheahan in an article highlighting the value of taggers.  In one game at Kardinia Park (27/6/64), as the two teams left the races to jog to either end and start their warm-ups, DOB actually ran out with the Geelong team, bumping and jostling Sharrock.  This unorthodox intimidatory tactic copped DOB a warning from the umpires before the game even began!

In the struggling Shinboner side of the sixties, as a versatile "utility", DOB was used to plug many gaps.  In one game against Hawthorn, he played rover against Peter Crimmins.  Next time they met the Hawks, he was matched up against Peter Hudson at full back!

As another close-checking tagger and no-nonsense, consistent performer week-in week-out, John Blakey is the player in the current North line-up that I think is perhaps most like DOB.  And by happy coincidence, like DOB, he also wears the Number 12.
 

"Football's Most Effective Tag Man"
Newspaper article, c.1967

Football's most effective tag man must be North's Daryl O'Brien.

I often think coach Keith McKenzie scans the opposition line-up, picks out their best player, then sools O'Brien on him.

Against Melbourne Daryl followed Mann; against South he tagged Skilton; at Carlton it was Barassi; at Hawthorn he chased Arthur; at Collingwood skipper Tuddenham and at Richmond, the damaging Northey.

How does it feel to be in the hot seat every week?

"I'd rather get beaten by a good player than a bad one," says Daryl.

Although he's played over 100 games, Daryl's shown greatly improved form this season under McKenzie.

"Keith lets me play a more positive brand of football that I'd been doing before," Daryl says gratefully.

Although he has his worries during the winter, he has an enviable job in the summer months - he is in charge of the cafe and kiosk at the Oak Park Swimming Pool.

Caption:
North Melbourne defender Daryl O'Brien wheels away with the ball at training.