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

Early years

Born in Melbourne, O'Donnell was a student at St Kilda's Christian Brothers College. He later did a building apprenticeship at Swinburne College. His early football was played with South Caulfield CYMS.

Military service

In World War II he served overseas with the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

after enlisting in 1943. Following service in Britain, O'Donnell was a member of the occupation forces in Germany.

Football

St Kilda career

O'Donnell, a half forward, debuted in the opening round of the 1946 VFL season, against

North Melbourne North Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. North Melbourne recorded a population of 14,953 at ...

at Arden Street Oval. He kicked two goals and was named amongst St Kilda's best. From 1946 to 1949, O'Donnell amassed 49 league games for St Kilda.

Deniliquin coach

In 1950, O'Donnell left St Kilda to coach in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, for

Deniliquin Deniliquin () is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia, close to the border with Victoria. It is the largest town in the Edward River Council local government area. Deniliquin is located at the intersection of the Riverina ...

in the

Murray Football League The Murray Football Netball League is an Australian rules football and netball league affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League. The league covers a large area of northern Victoria (Australia), Victoria and southern New South Wales ...

. He remained senior coach in 1951, then played the 1952 season as a player only, as former South Melbourne player Ted Whitfield took charge. O'Donnell was in the Deniliquin team which drew the 1952 grand final with Finley and lost by replay by six points. In 1953 he returned as coach for one final season and was runner up in the 1953

best and fairest award, the O'Dwyer Medal. He was president of the Deniliquin Football Club from 1973 to 1978.

Later life and family

A builder by trade, O'Donnell remained in

, where he raised four children with wife Bernadette. The youngest,

Simon O'Donnell Simon Patrick O'Donnell (born 26 January 1963) is an Australian former cricketer, VFL footballer, and horse racing and cricket commentator. He is currently a horse breeder and enabler. He is a former record holder for the fastest One Day Int ...

, played 24 games for St Kilda in the 1980s, but is best known as a cricketer. He won a

World Cup A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the concept i ...

with Australia in 1987. Heavily involved in the racing industry, he bred his own racehorses and was a trustee of the Deniliquin racecourse.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:ODonnell, Kevin 1924 births Australian rules footballers from Melbourne St Kilda Football Club players Deniliquin Football Club players Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II 2002 deaths People from St Kilda, Victoria Military personnel from Melbourne Australian rules football coaches