AFL 2025: James O’Donnell another ex-cricketer to make successful transition to football

James O’Donnell is part of a growing number of cricketers to make the successful transition to football. Ed Bourke explores how he did it and why so many others have enjoyed success.

Luke Beveridge once compared Rory Lobb and his regenerative qualities to a “salamander, chameleon or just your garden-variety lizard”.

Throw in his key defensive partner James O’Donnell and the Western Bulldogs have two talls of a “different species” controlling their backline – along with at least one jealous onlooker.

The cricket convert’s older brother, Tom O’Donnell, can scarcely believe how quickly he has established himself as an AFL player.

And not just any player – one who is currently rated by Champion Data as the sixth-best key defender in the competition this year.

“The good thing for (James), and the frustrating thing for us ‘other people’, is he’s just got this freakish ability to pick up ball sports like they’re nothing,” O’Donnell says.

“I think our whole family has been pinching ourselves and enjoying watching.”

Simon O’Donnell managed to squeeze in two seasons at St Kilda before his celebrated international cricket career took off.

James – a 197cm left-footer (or right-hand bat, right-arm medium pacer) – shares his father’s gift for both sports, but decided to take his talents in the other direction.

The whirlwind route from active cricketer to Category B rookie had been taken before him by his former Bulldogs teammate Alex Keath, and has quickly been followed by other young Victorian prospects Wil Parker (Collingwood) and Zak Evans (Gold Coast).

James O’Donnell with his dad, former Australian cricket and VFL footballer Simon. Picture : Nicki Connolly

Tom O’Donnell – a Victorian-contracted left-arm quick who was forced to retire at 27 due to injury two summers ago – says there’s a common thread that has allowed the quartet to seamlessly switch codes.

“I’ve played with both Parker and ‘Cherry’ (Evans) … just freakish sort of athletes, who can mould themselves to whatever the sport demands,” the older O’Donnell says.

“They both seem to be taking to it pretty well, which is a testament to how well the AFL does at identifying talent.

“I look at guys like Will Sutherland, who’s probably one of the best trainers I’ve ever seen, the fittest guy you’ve ever seen before in your life.

“I know I wasn’t the picture of fitness, but playing four days and being able to back up time and time again while doing your skill … these guys are a different species, and either sport, they’d be able to make it work, I’m sure.”

James O’Donnell has become a key cog in the Western Bulldogs defence.

O’Donnell starred in last week’s clash with Gold Coast.

O’Donnell says he is still in “a bit of shock” about James’ rise at the Bulldogs, but takes pride in his brother’s decision to take a leap of faith.

“He was far too young (at 20) to be making a decision on his sporting future. I was trying to encourage him to go for it – the chance is there, so why not,” Tom says.

James says the uncertainty over his football left by the Covid-ruined 2020-21 seasons had been “eating at him” when he started exploring a swap at the end of 2022.

“I didn’t really know where my footy was at … I’d played junior and school footy mostly as a midfielder and half-forward, then had this growth spurt and probably lost my way a bit, and I just really wanted to find out,” he says.

“(Former Bulldogs fitness boss) Mat Inness introduced me to Stewart Edge (the Footscray VFL coach), and it all took off from there.”

He made the decision to pause cricket after an enjoyable 12 months playing Premier cricket for Essendon’s First XI with Tom, who thought his younger brother had serious upside as a batter.

“He might want to kill me for this, but I think he’d tell you too that he wasn’t the most damaging bowler of all time,” Tom says.

“I’d swear a lot from fine leg because he’d bowl a few half-volleys, which was infuriating.

“We opened the bowling a couple of times together, and I felt like I’d kept my end of the bargain – the pressure seemed to be releasing from the other end, which is pretty easy to get angry about when it’s your brother, I guess.”

What a week for the O'Donnell brothers. Left-arm quickie Tom gets a cricket contract with Victoria, brother James jags an AFL debut for the Doggies. James was a useful cricketer too, playing 15 first XI matches for Essendon (where dad Simon was recently added to the hall of fame) pic.twitter.com/bBc5BJCpV5

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) May 11, 2023

Fast-forward two years, and O’Donnell, 22, is not releasing any pressure as a key pillar in the Bulldogs’ defence.

In the narrow loss to Gold Coast in Darwin last week, he had career-high marks (11), intercept marks (six) and intercept possessions (12), and his form has come despite being thrown forward for a fortnight to cover for the loss of Sam Darcy.

A frustrating run of injuries last season threatened to dent his progress, but he has continued to be a “sponge” working closely with Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt and veteran defender Liam Jones.

O’Donnell says he continues to be “extremely grateful” to Beveridge for taking a punt on him as he prepares for his 35th game against Essendon on Saturday night.

“To make the jump, looking back on it, it’s one of my better decisions, because I just love being an AFL footballer,” he says.

“I definitely have to give so much credit to Bevo just for his belief in me, which I probably didn’t have at the time.

“It was a real shock, but he showed so much faith in me and still does to this day, and I feel super lucky to be in the position I am in.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: James O’Donnell another ex-cricketer to make successful transition to football