Gerry O'Neill
Footscray
AFL career
16 games2 goals
- Debut
- R2 1943 v CAR15 May 1943
- Most recent
- R17 1944 v RCH26 Aug 1944
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Chiltern in north-east Victoria, Gerry "Podge" O'Neill was a prolific country forward whose VFL career was a brief cameo shaped by the Second World War. After impressing with local sides North Footscray and Kingsville, he broke into the Bulldogs' senior lineup in 1943 while serving with the RAAF's 2nd Airfield Construction Squadron. Although he managed just two goals in his 16 games at the top level, O'Neill was a genuine goalkicking machine in regional football, later returning home to captain-coach Chiltern to multiple premierships and booting a massive 139 goals in the 1950 season. His contribution to the game extended well beyond his own playing days as the grandfather of Brisbane Lions triple-premiership star Nigel Lappin.
Profile
- Born
- 13 Apr 1919
- Died
- 01 Aug 2004 (aged 85y 110d)
- Birthplace
- Chiltern, VIC
- Deathplace
- Wangaratta, VIC
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 73 kg
Teams
Family
- Grandson:Nigel Lappin
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Chiltern in north-east Victoria, Gerry "Podge" O'Neill was a prolific country forward whose VFL career was a brief cameo shaped by the Second World War. After impressing with local sides North Footscray and Kingsville, he broke into the Bulldogs' senior lineup in 1943 while serving with the RAAF's 2nd Airfield Construction Squadron. Although he managed just two goals in his 16 games at the top level, O'Neill was a genuine goalkicking machine in regional football, later returning home to captain-coach Chiltern to multiple premierships and booting a massive 139 goals in the 1950 season. His contribution to the game extended well beyond his own playing days as the grandfather of Brisbane Lions triple-premiership star Nigel Lappin.