Gary O'Donnell has been inducted into Essendon Football Club's Hall of Fame on Thursday afternoon at Crown Palladium.

O'Donnell served a 67-game apprenticeship in the U19s and reserves before making his senior debut in the final round of 1987.

Bombers fans will agree it was worth the wait for O’Donnell became one of the most professional, consistent and popular players and later coach, during his two decades at Windy Hill.  

From his second senior game in round 3, 1988, O’Donnell played 78 consecutive games before missing one. He played a total of 243 games in a remarkably consistent career that won him a premiership medal, a best and fairest medal, the club captaincy, nine interstate jumpers, All-Australian selection and the respect of the football fraternity.

His team mate and later captain Bomber Thompson described him as a ‘fantastic role model and leader.’

O'Donnell began as a nullifying tagger before developing into one of the best on-ballers in the game. He was as adept at closing down opponents as he was at creating opportunities for his own teammates.

Such was O’Donnell’s consistency that he finished top three in the club’s best and fairest in six seasons and won the coveted award in 1993, a premiership year. Many believe he was unlucky not to add the Norm Smith Medal for his performance in the grand final win that year.
O’Donnell relished hard work leading his first captain Terry Daniher to remark that ‘He was one of the best trainers you would ever see on the track’ and his leadership was recognised and rewarded when he was made captain in 1996 and 1997.
Football legend Leigh Matthews said that O’Donnell was one of the five most valuable midfielders in the competition and after O’Donnell retired in 1997 Matthews recruited him as a development coach at Brisbane Lions.
After six very successful seasons at Brisbane, O’Donnell returned to Windy Hill as part of the coaching staff and the when the announcement was made at the 2004 Crichton medal that he was returning home the room erupted in cheers.
He was assistant coach at Essendon from 2004 until 2010 adding another chapter of service to the Bombers.
Gary O’Donnell’s career has been one marked by single-minded application, fine leadership, a voracious appetite for hard work and a love of the contest.
He played 243 games that delighted fans and inspired team mates before sharing his experience and passion in the mentoring of others.