Graeme O'Donnell
North Melbourne and Geelong
AFL career
23 games22 goals
- Debut
- R11 1961 v CAR1 July 1961
- Most recent
- R8 1964 v STK6 June 1964
Stats
Bio
Born into one of the region’s most illustrious sporting dynasties, Graeme O’Donnell carried the famous Rankin bloodline as the grandson of Geelong legend Teddy Rankin. A diminutive rover and forward standing just 174cm, he possessed a sharp eye for goal, averaging nearly a major per game throughout his short VFL career. After struggling to cement a regular senior spot in a strong Geelong outfit during the early 1960s, O'Donnell crossed to North Melbourne, where he enjoyed his most productive season in front of the big sticks in 1963. While his time at the elite level was brief, his sporting legacy endured through his children, becoming the patriarch of a celebrated modern athletic family as the father of Essendon captain Gary O’Donnell and Australian netball star Shelley O’Donnell.
Profile
- Born
- 19 July 1938
- Died
- 22 Aug 2023 (aged 85y 34d)
- Height
- 174 cm
- Weight
- 72 kg
Teams
Family
- Grandfather:Teddy Rankin, Pat O'Donnell
- Son:Gary O'Donnell
- Uncle:Tom Rankin, Bert Rankin, Cliff Rankin, Doug Rankin
Bio
1 revisionBorn into one of the region’s most illustrious sporting dynasties, Graeme O’Donnell carried the famous Rankin bloodline as the grandson of Geelong legend Teddy Rankin. A diminutive rover and forward standing just 174cm, he possessed a sharp eye for goal, averaging nearly a major per game throughout his short VFL career. After struggling to cement a regular senior spot in a strong Geelong outfit during the early 1960s, O'Donnell crossed to North Melbourne, where he enjoyed his most productive season in front of the big sticks in 1963. While his time at the elite level was brief, his sporting legacy endured through his children, becoming the patriarch of a celebrated modern athletic family as the father of Essendon captain Gary O’Donnell and Australian netball star Shelley O’Donnell.