Kevin O'Donnell (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).

Kevin O'Donnell
Personal information
Full name Kevin O'Donnell
Date of birth (1924-07-12)12 July 1924
Place of birth St Kilda, Victoria
Date of death 15 January 2002(2002-01-15) (aged 77)
Original team(s) South Caulfield CYMS
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1946–1949 St Kilda 49 (20)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1949.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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]

gollark: Your phone could probably charge off just 5V/1A fine, but slower.
gollark: Of all the things to sign, *fans*? Why?
gollark: Do phones themselves, not the *chargers*, output that much?
gollark: Except it might destroy the camera, which would be bad.
gollark: Someone had the idea of doing that with a phone and one of those cheap cardboard VR headsets, which actually does seem kind of reasonable.

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