Kevin_O'Donnell_(footballer)

Kevin O'Donnell (footballer)

Kevin O'Donnell (footballer)

Australian rules footballer

Kevin O'Donnell (12 July 1924 – 15 January 2002) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Early years

Born in Melbourne, O'Donnell was a student at St Kilda's Christian Brothers College.[1] He later did a building apprenticeship at Swinburne College.[1]

His early football was played with South Caulfield CYMS.[2]

Military service

In World War II he served overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force after enlisting in 1943.[3] Following service in Britain, O'Donnell was a member of the occupation forces in Germany.[1]

Football

St Kilda career

O'Donnell, a half forward, debuted in the opening round of the 1946 VFL season, against North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval.[4][5] He kicked two goals and was named amongst St Kilda's best.[6]

From 1946 to 1949, O'Donnell amassed 49 league games for St Kilda.[5]

Deniliquin coach

In 1950, O'Donnell left St Kilda to coach in New South Wales, for Deniliquin in the Murray Football League.[7] He remained senior coach in 1951, then played the 1952 season as a player only, as former South Melbourne player Ted Whitfield took charge.[8]

O'Donnell was in the Deniliquin team which drew the 1952 grand final with Finley and lost by replay by six points.[9][10]

In 1953 he returned as coach for one final season [11] and was runner up in the 1953 Murray Football League best and fairest award, the O'Dwyer Medal.[12]

He was president of the Deniliquin Football Club from 1973 to 1978.[1]

Later life and family

A builder by trade, O'Donnell remained in Deniliquin, where he raised four children with wife Bernadette.[1] The youngest, Simon O'Donnell, played 24 games for St Kilda in the 1980s, but is best known as a cricketer.[13] He won a World Cup with Australia in 1987.[14]

Heavily involved in the racing industry, he bred his own racehorses and was a trustee of the Deniliquin racecourse.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    Carey, Tom (30 March 2002). "Obituary – Kevin O'Donnell – Builder, Sportsman". The Age. p. 8.
  2. [2]
    "League Opposes Barter for Players". The Argus. Melbourne. 1 June 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 5 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. [3]
    "World War Two Nominal Roll". Government of Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  4. [4]
    Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  5. [5]
    "AFL Tables – Kevin ODonnell – Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Good Finish by North". The Argus. Melbourne. 23 April 1946. p. 12. Retrieved 5 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. [7]
    "C.Y.M.S. Begins 1950 Football Season". Advocate. Melbourne. 27 April 1950. p. 20. Retrieved 5 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. [8]
    "Coach, Best & Fairest, Goalkicker – Deniliquin Football and Netball Club". Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. [9]
    "Deni- Finley tie in Grand Final". Riverine Herald. Echuca, Vic. 22 September 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 5 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. [10]
    "Finley Wins Play-off". Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser. NSW. 29 September 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 5 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. [11]
    "Kevin O'Donnel to coach Deniliquin". Cobram Courier. Vic. 19 February 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 5 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. [12]
    "1953 - Murray FL - O'Dwyer Medal". Cobram Courier. 3 September 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2020 – via Trove Newspapers.
  13. [13]
    Hillier, K. (2004). Like Father Like Son. Pennon Publishing, Melbourne. ISBN 1-877029-73-4.
  14. [14]
    Dunleavy, Diane (11 June 1993). "A whole new ball game". The Age. pp. 3, Saturday Extra.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Kevin_O'Donnell_(footballer), and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.