Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Frank Donnellan

Known as
Frank Donnellan

Born
17 November 1907

Died
5 July 1994 (aged 86)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 221d
Last game: 26y 302d

Senior clubs
Hawthorn; North Melbourne; Fitzroy

Jumper numbers
Hawthorn: 20
North Melbourne: 20, 7
Fitzroy: 32

Recruited from
Hawthorn (1927); North Melbourne (1933)

Frank Donnellan

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
HawthornV/AFL1926320.670%———0
North MelbourneV/AFL1927, 1931-19321880.4417%9.00—2.000
FitzroyV/AFL1933-19343600.0050%11.83—1.830
V/AFL1926-1927, 1931-193457100.1837%10.89—1.890
Total1926-1927, 1931-193457100.1837%10.89—1.890

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 3,199th player to appear, 4,003rd most games played, 5,003rd most goals kickedHawthorn: 47th player to appear, 786th most games played, 566th most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 60th player to appear, 479th most games played, 385th most goals kickedFitzroy: 448th player to appear, 327th most games played, 964th most goals kicked

A forward for much of his career, towards the end Frank Donnellan became a fine full back. Having tried out with Essendon in 1925 without being taken on, he joined Hawthorn the following year, but only managed three appearances and two goals for the season. In 1927 he joined North Melbourne, but failed to establish himself and after playing just one game he departed the VFL scene, for the time being at any rate.

Half way through the 1932 season he resumed at North and had taken his games played total to 18 and the number of goals kicked to eight by the time he switched to Fitzroy in 1934. His two season stint with the Roys saw him producing the best and most compelling football of his career and after playing 36 VFL games in two seasons he opted to retire whilst still at the top of his form.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.