Shelley O'Donnell

{{Infobox netball biography

|name = Shelley O'Donnell

|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM|size=100%}}

|image =

|caption =

|fullname = Shelley Maree O'Donnell

|maidenname =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|4|18|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Victoria, Australia

|height = 172 cm

|school =Norwood Secondary College

|university =

|occupation =

|relatives = Rankin family
Graeme O'Donnell (father)
Gary O'Donnell (brother)

|spouse =

|marrieddate =

|children = Hannah Mundy

|positions = WA, C

|clubyears1 = 1987–1988

|clubteam1 = Australian Institute of Sport

|clubyears2 = 1989

|clubteam2 = Melbourne/Doncaster Keas

|clubyears3 = 1990

|clubteam3 = Melbourne City

|clubyears4 = 1993

|clubteam4 = Contax

|clubyears5 = 1994

|clubteam5 = Melbourne Keas

|clubyears6 = 1996

|clubteam6 = Australian Institute of Sport

|clubyears7 = 1997–2005

|clubteam7 = Melbourne Kestrels

|nationalyears1 = 1990–1999

|nationalteam1 = Australia

|nationalcaps1 = 84

|medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{nb|Australia}}}}

}}

Shelley O'Donnell is a former Australia netball international. Between 1990 and 1999, O'Donnell made 84 senior appearances for Australia. She was a member of the Australia teams that won gold medals at the 1991, 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships, the 1993 World Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. During the Esso/Mobil Superleague era, O'Donnell played for several teams, including the Australian Institute of Sport and Contax. Between 1997 and 2005, O'Donnell played for Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. In 1992, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

In June 2024 Shelley's daughter, Hannah Mundy, was selected in the Australian Diamonds netball squad.

Early life and family

Shelley O'Donnell is the daughter of Bev and Graeme O'Donnell. The O'Donnell family is from Ringwood North, Victoria. She is a member of a prominent Australian rules football family. O'Donnell's paternal grandmother, Eileen O'Donnell (née Rankin) was the daughter of Teddy Rankin and the sister of Bert, Cliff and Doug Rankin. All four were prominent players with Geelong. Her father and brother, Gary O'Donnell were also notable players. Her sister, Wendy O'Donnell, is also a netball player.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/123009122/|title=The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia · Page 54|work=The Age|via=newspapers.com|date=26 June 1994|accessdate=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/king-sized-satisfaction-as-rams-reach-the-peak-at-last-20080407-ge6xqo.html|title=King-sized satisfaction as Rams reach the peak at last|work=The Age|date=7 April 2008|accessdate=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Assembly_2011/Assembly_Daily_Extract_23_March_2011_from_Book_4.pdf|title=Parliament of Victoria – Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|publisher=parliament.vic.gov.au|date=23 March 2011|accessdate=23 January 2021}} In 2019 O'Donnell's daughter, Hannah Mundy, was selected to play for Victorian Fury.{{Cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/news/mundy-forging-her-own-path|title=Mundy forging her own path|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|date=16 September 2020|accessdate=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/diamonds-netball-champions-daughter-breaks-through-into-vixens-feeder-squad/news-story/3e3b1e16a66b64da95c50f0c6ef09f61|title=Diamonds netball champion's daughter breaks through into Vixens feeder squad|work=The Australian|date=2 February 2019|accessdate=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/netball/next-generation-of-daughters-about-to-boom-in-super-netball-20190523-p51qd6.html|title=Next generation of daughters about to boom in Super Netball|work=The Age|date=23 May 2019|accessdate=23 January 2021}}

Playing career

=Esso/Mobil Superleague=

During the Esso/Mobil Superleague era, O'Donnell and her sister Wendy played together for several teams. In 1987, together with Shelley Oates-Wilding, they were both members of the Australian Institute of Sport team that were grand finalists. In 1989, together with Nicole Richardson, they played for Melbourne/Doncaster Keas. In 1990 they played for Melbourne City, a composite team coached by Norma Plummer and also featuring Roselee Jencke and Simone McKinnis. Melbourne City finished as champions after defeating Contax 52–42 in the grand final.{{Cite web |title=1987 AIS Netball Program |url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1987 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011171040/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1987 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=Clearinghouse for Sport |publisher=Australian Sports Commission}}{{Cite web |title=1988 AIS Netball Program |url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324162954/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1988 |archive-date=24 March 2019 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=Clearinghouse for Sport |publisher=Australian Sports Commission}}{{Cite web|url=https://netballscoop.com/forums/topic/esso-superleague-1985-1990/|title=Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985–1996 (page 1)|publisher=netballscoop.com|accessdate=30 October 2020}} In 1993, alongside Kathryn Harby and Julie Nykiel, she played for Contax as an "import player". In 1994 she captained Melbourne Keas while Nicole Richardson served as vice-captain.{{Cite web|url=https://netballscoop.com/forums/topic/esso-superleague-1985-1990/page/2/|title=Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985–1996 (page 2)|publisher=netballscoop.com|accessdate=30 October 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfNJFVjnLK0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VfNJFVjnLK0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=1993 Netball – Sydney Sutherland V Adelaide Contax 4th QTR|via=YouTube|date=9 October 2014|accessdate=25 January 2021}}{{cbignore}} In 1996 she captained the AIS team after returning as an "import player".{{Cite web|url=https://netballscoop.com/forums/topic/esso-superleague-1985-1990/page/3/|title=Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985–1996 (page 3)|publisher=netballscoop.com|accessdate=30 October 2020}}

=Melbourne Kestrels=

Between 1997 and 2005, O'Donnell played for Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. She was the inaugural Kestrels captain and continued in the role until 2000. She missed the 2001 and 2002 seasons after giving birth to her daughter, Hannah. She returned in 2003, but then missed the 2004 season after giving birth to her son, Jasper. She then made a second comeback in 2005 and played her final senior netball season.{{Cite web|url=https://diamonds.netball.com.au/player/shelley-odonnell|title=Shelley O'Donnell|publisher=diamonds.netball.com.au|accessdate=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/season-2003-how-the-teams-are-shaping-up-20030425-gdgno7.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Season 2003: How the teams are shaping up|date=25 April 2003|accessdate=7 September 2020}}{{cite news |title=Kestrel back in top flight|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Kestrel-back-in-top-flight/2005/06/03/1117568373047.html|work=The Age|date=4 June 2005|accessdate=28 March 2009}}{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2005-08-07/kestrels-demolish-firebirds/2076562?pfmredir=sm|title=Kestrels demolish Firebirds|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=7 August 2005|accessdate=25 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/team-century|title=Team of the Century|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|accessdate=21 August 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://melbournevixens.com.au/team/our-history|title=Melbourne Vixens – Our history|publisher=melbournevixens.com.au|accessdate=13 September 2020}}

=Australia=

Between 1990 and 1999, O'Donnell made 84 senior appearances for Australia. O'Donnell previously represented Australia at under-21 level, including at the 1988 World Youth Netball Championships, when her teammates included her sister, Wendy. She made her senior debut on 21 November 1990. She was subsequently a member of the Australia teams that won gold medals at the 1991, 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships, the 1993 World Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. O'Donnell was vice-captain of the 1999 World Netball Championship squad and announced her retirement from international netball following their title win.{{Cite web|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/05192322/WorldCup_History.pdf|title=Australia at the Netball World Cup|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026074707/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/05192322/WorldCup_History.pdf|archive-date=26 October 2020|accessdate=26 August 2020|publisher=Netball Australia}}{{cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/Other/Women_World_Games_1993.html|title=Women Netball World Games 1993 The Hague|publisher=todor66.com|accessdate=6 May 2020}}{{Cite web |title=AIS Netball Program |url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313091527/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball |archive-date=13 March 2019 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=Clearinghouse for Sport |publisher=Australian Sports Commission}} In 1992 O'Donnell, along with the rest of the gold medal-winning 1991 World Netball Championship squad, were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.{{cite news|date=8 June 1992|title=QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS ORDER OF AUSTRALIA|volume=66|page=4|newspaper=The Canberra Times|issue=20,875|location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126927579|accessdate=29 September 2020|via=National Library of Australia}} In 2010, O'Donnell was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/27094535/2010-Annual-Report.pdf|title=Netball Australia Annual Report 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029171008/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/27094535/2010-Annual-Report.pdf|archive-date=29 October 2020|accessdate=28 June 2020 |publisher=Netball Australia}}

class="wikitable collapsible" ! Tournaments ! Place
1988 World Youth Netball Championships	{{gold01}}
1991 World Netball Championships{{cite web\|url=http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/World/Women_1991.html\|title=Women Netball VIII World Championship 1991 Sydney\|publisher=todor66.com\|accessdate=26 February 2020}}{{Cite web\|url=https://sahof.org.au/award-winner/australian-netball-team/\|title=1991 Australian Netball Team – Sport Australia Hall of Fame\|publisher=sahof.org.au\|accessdate=23 January 2021}}	{{gold01}}
1993 World Games{{cite web\|url=http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/Other/Women_World_Games_1993.html\|title=Women Netball World Games 1993 The Hague\|publisher=todor66.com\|accessdate=6 May 2020}}	{{gold01}}
1995 World Netball Championships{{cite web\|url=http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/World/Women_1995.html\|title=Women Netball IX World Championship 1995 Birmingham\|publisher=todor66.com\|accessdate=26 February 2020}}	{{gold01}}
1998 Commonwealth Games{{Cite web\|url=https://commonwealthgames.com.au/athletes/shelley-odonnell/\|title=Shelley O'Donnell\|publisher=commonwealthgames.com.au\|accessdate=23 January 2021}}	{{gold01}}
1999 World Netball Championships{{cite web\|url=http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/World/Women_1999.html#Teams_Composition\|title=Women Netball X World Championship 1999 Christchurch\|publisher=todor66.com\|accessdate=26 February 2020}}{{Cite web\|url=https://sahof.org.au/award-winner/1999-australian-netball-team-netball-1999/\|title=1999 Australian Netball Team – Sport Australia Hall of Fame\|publisher=sahof.org.au\|access-date=10 July 2021}}	{{gold01}}

Coach and commentator

Since retiring as a netball player, O'Donnell has remained involved in the game, both as a commentator with ABC and as a coach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bna.org.au/juniornet/skillnet-clinics|title=SkillNet Clinics – Boroondara Netball Association|publisher=bna.org.au|accessdate=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bna.org.au/competitions/75--sp-265/345-shelley-o-donnell-netfit-clinics|title=Shelley O'Donnell – NetFit clinics|publisher=bna.org.au|accessdate=23 January 2021}} In 2017 and 2018 she coached the Eastern Football Netball League inter-league team.{{Cite web|url=https://efnl.org.au/former-diamond-to-lead-efl/|title=Former Diamond to lead EFL|publisher=efnl.org.au|date=8 February 2017|accessdate=25 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://efnl.org.au/inaugural-netball-efl-interleague-squad-named/|title=Inaugural Netball EFL interleague squad named|publisher=efnl.org.au|date=4 April 2017|accessdate=23 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://efnl.org.au/former-diamond-re-appointed/|title=Former Diamond re-appointed|publisher=efnl.org.au|date=14 February 2018|accessdate=26 January 2021}} She is currently netball director at Melbourne school Korowa.{{Cite web |title=Shelley O'Donnell |url=https://melbournevixens.com.au/team/profile/shelley-odonnell |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Melbourne Vixens |language=en}}