Frank Dunell (born 17 March 1958) is a former

Australian rules Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

footballer who played with the

Essendon Bombers The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is a professional Australian rules football club. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the game's premier competition. The club was formed by the McCracken family in their A ...

and the

Brisbane Bears The Brisbane Football Club, nicknamed the Bears, was a professional Australian rules football club based in Queensland on the Gold Coast (relocated to Brisbane in 1993). The club participated in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/A ...

in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL). Originally from

Queensland Australian Football League The Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) is an Australian rules football competition organised by the AFL Queensland, contested by clubs from South East Queensland. Previously known as the Queensland Football League (QFL), Queensland ...

(QAFL) club Windsor-Zillmere, Dunell was recruited by the Essendon Bombers and made his senior VFL debut in

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

. Dunell played in many positions during his career, including half back, the wing, forward pocket and at full forward. He was first recruited as a high flying forward from Windsor Zillmere however his mosT consistent form was found when he played down back. He missed the 83 grandfinal against the Hawks along with Ron Andrews and both played major roles in winning the reserve grade final against Collingwood that day. It was in the forward pocket where he played in Essendon's 1984 premiership. That year he also was a member of Essendons night premiership team. In 1985 he incurred an injury to his knee just before seasons end missing the all conquering performance against the Hawks. He played more games than anyone else in the bombers most successful era (1983-86) and he remained with the club until the end of the

1986 VFL season The 1986 VFL season was the 90th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 29 March until 27 September, and comprised a ...

when he returned home to Brisbane and became a member of the Brisbane Bears original squad for the

1987 VFL season File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, ...

. Dunell spent two injury interrupted seasons with Brisbane before retiring at the end of the 1988 season. He was the first Queenslander to win a VFL premiership and was later recognised as a member of the QLD Origin team of the century. Dunell has coached in the VAFA since his retirement firstly as a player coach with St Bernards in 1991-1993 where he took them to A Grade after winning the B-Grade premiership. He then coached various sides in North Old Boys, Old Essendon, Old Melbournians and finally Old Geelong. He was the senior coach of the VAFA State under 23 team and in 2005 took the All Australian Amateur team to Ireland to play against the All Ireland team as the head coach. Dunell's son Sam played for

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

(AFL) club St Kilda.

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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunell, Frank 1958 births Living people Essendon Football Club players Essendon Football Club Premiership players Brisbane Bears players Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club players Australian rules footballers from Queensland One-time VFL/AFL Premiership players