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Key Facts

Full name
Gary O'Donnell

Known as
Gary O'Donnell

Born
12 May 1965 (age 57)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 110d
Last game: 33y 115d

Height and weight
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 85 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon; Australia

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 44, 10

Family links
Graeme O'Donnell (Father)Teddy Rankin (Great grandfather)Pat O'Donnell (Great grandfather)Jasmine Fleming (Niece)Bert Rankin (Great uncle)Cliff Rankin (Great uncle)Doug Rankin (Great uncle)Georgie Rankin (Second cousin (Once removed))

Gary O'Donnell

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
EssendonV/AFL1987-1998243880.3659%12.547.352.8635
AustraliaIR1990300.00—————
Total1987-1998246880.36—————

AFL: 9,898th player to appear, 312th most games played, 1,223rd most goals kickedEssendon: 936th player to appear, 15th most games played, 99th most goals kicked

Essendon recruited Gary O'Donnell from North Ringwood in 1983, but such was the all round strength of the Bombers' line-up that it was four years before he managed to break into the senior team. Once there, he never looked back, establishing a reputation as one of the most versatile and damaging on-ballers in the game.

Equally effective as a tagger or in a free-running role, the left-footed O'Donnell was one of the leading lights in Essendon's 1993 premiership team, during a season which saw him finally break through for a club best and fairest award after finishing in the frame on several previous occasions. Gary O'Donnell retired in 1998 after 243 V/AFL games and 88 goals for the Bombers. He was club skipper in 1996 and 1997.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

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Footnotes

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