It was a message from former Pioneers co-captain Josh Treacy congratulating O'Bree on the club's round one win over Murray and wishing the team all the best for round two.

"He's a sensational kid,'' O'Bree said of the teenager from Cohuna.

"Today (Sunday) on social media he posted how he was watching his best mates play for the Pioneers play on the QEO. That was hours before he made his AFL debut.

"That epitomises the kid. He cares and he's genuine. Some kids get caught up in the bright lights, not Josh. He hasn't forgotten where he comes from."

That's why O'Bree sat back proudly and watched Treacy pick up 10 possessions, five marks and three tackles in Fremantle's win over Hawthorn in Perth.

"I couldn't be happier for him,'' O'Bree said.

"He deserves everything that comes his way."

12 months ago there were doubts about Treacy's ability to make it to the next level.

His physicality, marking and kicking were exceptional for his age, but his body shape and running ability in the modern game were questioned.

Instead of wallowing in self pity, Treacy did something about it.

Despite not having any footy to play because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Treacy spent 2020 training like he'd never trained before.

"Some people gave him some feedback, he listened and accepted it and worked as hard as he could to fix it,'' O'Bree said.

"He was given a program by our strength and conditioning team and he left no stone unturned.

"He would take a video of lifts he was doing and send it through to make sure his technique was right.

"He could well have been one of those hard luck stories. When you have that honest self analysing... it's a credit to him. He just put his head down and did the hard work.

"He was never gifted anything. The results speak for themselves. He was picked up in the rookie draft and he made his debut in round four. That says a fair bit about him."

O'Bree has no doubt that Treacy's progression in 2020 and early 2021 has rubbed off on his close mates at the Pioneers.

"I don't think there's any coincidence that some of Josh's best mates that he was training with through last year are going really well so far this year,'' he said.

"There's been a turnaround in terms of how hard you have to work in regards to the professionalism in our program.

"The boys have accepted it and welcomed it."

Treacy's impact at the Dockers has been well received by their most senior player - 336-game midfielder David Mundy.

"I think he gave us everything he promised and he got no football last year, but he hasn't put a foot wrong since he came over to the west,'' Mundy told ABC sport after Sunday's win over the Hawks.

"I'm stoked for the Treacy family and for him."

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