Gerry Donnelly

Gerry Donnelly
File:G Donnelly 1919.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Gerald Vincent Donnelly
Date of birth	(1903-08-07)7 August 1903
Place of birth	West Melbourne
Date of death
Place of death	Melbourne
Original team(s)	St Patrick's (Albury)
Height/Weight	183 cm / 80 kg
Position(s)	Wingman
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1924 1925 1926, 1930 1930 Total	Sturt Melbourne North Melbourne Essendon	13 (16) 12 (4) 14 (5) 03 (0) 27 (9)
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1926	North Melbourne	14 (0-13-1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1930 season.

Gerald 'Gerry' Donnelly (7 August 1903 – 4 September 1937) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne, North Melbourne and Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Donnelly, nicknamed Gerry, grew up in West Melbourne, Victoria with his two brothers and four sisters. He began his education at St Mary's Primary School, West Melbourne before going on to St. Joseph's Christian Brothers' College, North Melbourne where he stayed until 1919. During his teenage years he performed in a number of local concerts as he had a fine singing voice. While at school he also became a very good athlete and in 1919 was part of the St. Joseph's senior football squad along with Ray Brew.

After leaving school Donnelly trained with Essendon Juniors before going to South Australia where he played with the senior squad of Sturt Football Club. In 1925 he returned to Victoria and his career in a senior league came to prominence at Melbourne Football Club where he played as wingman. That same year he was chosen to represent the Victorian interstate team. Towards the end of the 1925 season he had his playing permit cancelled after it was decided by the League Investigations Committee that he was residentially bound to North Melbourne.

Donnelly crossed to North Melbourne Football Club in 1926 and captain-coached the club for 14 games that year. Although he failed to register a win he did lead North Melbourne to a controversial draw with Hawthorn Football Club in Round 13. Hawthorn were leading by a point when the bell sounded but Donnelly, who was running with the ball at the time, kicked a behind to level the scores. As the umpires had not heard the bell the point stood.

On 4 September 1937, Donnelly died in Melbourne at the relatively young age of 34 from illness.

External links

• Gerry Donnelly's statistics from AFL Tables