Australian rules footballer
Australian rules footballer
James Francis Donnellan (17 November 1907 – 5 July 1994) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
Early life
The son of James Francis Donnellan and Margaret Ann Fitzgerald, Frank Donnellan was educated at Xavier College in Kew and was a prominent player in their 1924 premiership side.[2]
Donnellan trialled with Essendon in 1925[3] but joined Hawthorn in 1926, making his debut at full-forward in their 141-point loss to Melbourne[4] and making two other appearances before being dropped to the reserves.
Having been released by Hawthorn at the commencement of the 1927 VFL season,[5] Donnellan played with Thornbury in the C.Y.M.S. Association and then moved to North Melbourne[6] and made a solitary appearance late in the season. During the next few years Donnellan did not play VFL football, again playing with Thornbury,[7] but he resumed with North Melbourne halfway through the 1931 VFL season and made 17 consecutive appearances in the team. During this run of games he changed position from being a key forward to playing at full-back.
At the start of the 1933 VFL season, Donnellan transferred to Fitzroy[8] and he played as full-back in every game for the next two seasons before his retirement.
Later life
In 1935 Frank Donnellan married Jane Elizabeth O’Connell[9] and they lived in Melbourne until his death in 1994. Donnellan is buried at the Andersons Creek Cemetery in Warrandyte.[10]
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