Marty McDonnell
Footscray
AFL career
92 games2 goals
- Debut
- R9 1939 v STK17 June 1939
- Most recent
- R18 1950 v COL26 Aug 1950
Stats
Bio
Born in New Zealand—a rarity for VFL players of the era—Marty McDonnell was a commanding full-back recruited from local side West Footscray. His career was significantly interrupted by World War II, with service in the Pacific costing him three prime seasons, yet he returned to establish himself as the anchor of the Bulldogs' defence. Renowned for his discipline and ability to quell dangerous opposition spearheads, he was a regular Victorian representative and notably polled the equal-most Brownlow votes for Footscray in 1947, a remarkable feat for a player stationed deep in the backline. McDonnell hung up the boots at the end of 1950, narrowly missing the club's maiden premiership, before continuing his football journey as a coach in country Victoria and later with South Fremantle in the WAFL.
Profile
- Born
- 28 Dec 1920
- Died
- 22 Dec 2005 (aged 84y 359d)
- Birthplace
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Deathplace
- Perth, WA
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 80 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBorn in New Zealand—a rarity for VFL players of the era—Marty McDonnell was a commanding full-back recruited from local side West Footscray. His career was significantly interrupted by World War II, with service in the Pacific costing him three prime seasons, yet he returned to establish himself as the anchor of the Bulldogs' defence. Renowned for his discipline and ability to quell dangerous opposition spearheads, he was a regular Victorian representative and notably polled the equal-most Brownlow votes for Footscray in 1947, a remarkable feat for a player stationed deep in the backline. McDonnell hung up the boots at the end of 1950, narrowly missing the club's maiden premiership, before continuing his football journey as a coach in country Victoria and later with South Fremantle in the WAFL.