Frank Dunell

[Shane Hird]

1984 Bomber Premiership player Frank Dunell is one of those blokes we tend to forget about a bit. Probably because he was part of a side that included many champions and superstars.



He came from Brisbane and went to St Patricks College where the main 'football' game was Rugby. But he soon joined a AFL club called Windsor-Zillmere and later played for a junior Queensland state side I think.


Several clubs went after him but he chose Essendon and played his first senior game in rd 11,1979 at VFL Park against RFC..on Francis Bourke!

In his first four years he played only 30 matches and was often injured. In 1983 he missed the GF after he played most of the season,but played well enough all through '84 to be included in that famous side that came back in the last qtr to beat Hawthorn.

In 1985 he played almost every H&A match,but did his knee just before the finals and missed the destruction of Hawthorn in that glorious GF.

He became a very successful business man after footy and also coached Premiership teams at A-grade amateur level in metro Melb.


Does anyone have any memories or stories about ol' Frankie?

If you're a supporter from another club,can you remember any Dunell moments?

 

[Merv]

1984 Bomber Premiership player Frank Dunell is one of those blokes we tend to forget about a bit. Probably because he was part of a side that included many champions and superstars.



He came from Brisbane and went to St Patricks College where the main 'football' game was Rugby. But he soon joined a AFL club called Windsor-Zillmere and later played for a junior Queensland state side I think.


Several clubs went after him but he chose Essendon and played his first senior game in rd 11,1979 at VFL Park against RFC..on Francis Bourke!

In his first four years he played only 30 matches and was often injured. In 1983 he missed the GF after he played most of the season,but played well enough all through '84 to be included in that famous side that came back in the last qtr to beat Hawthorn.

In 1985 he played almost every H&A match,but did his knee just before the finals and missed the destruction of Hawthorn in that glorious GF.

He became a very successful business man after footy and also coached Premiership teams at A-grade amateur level in metro Melb.


Does anyone have any memories or stories about ol' Frankie?

If you're a supporter from another club,can you remember any Dunell moments?

He was certainly a pretty handy footballer.

He also had a fair bit in common with a select group of footballers from every, i think every, other vic club....what was it?

 

[The Dustbin]

Wonder if he enjoyed his time with the Bears......

 

[Merv]

Wonder if he enjoyed his time with the Bears......

Right on the ball Dusty

 

[windyhill]

Handy, back or forward.

 

[BIGfootyfan34]

Handy, back or forward.

Ha the great man was a legend back in the day, I remember one game where he played on one of the krakouer brothers... played the living daylights out of him..

I can report the great man has come out of coaching retirement to coach the under 19 OM's in the Victorian amatuers

 

[daveyboy3]

Played for North Old Boys in the ammos, his son is running around there now..

Talked one thursday night after training and claims that the 84 side grand final side coached itself, despite what sheeds might say about the game.

 

[The Dustbin]

Played for North Old Boys in the ammos, his son is running around there now..

Talked one thursday night after training and claims that the 84 side grand final side coached itself, despite what sheeds might say about the game.

You sure you don't mean 85???

The 84 side came back from 4 goals at 3/4 time to win, I don't think that team coached itself....

 

[Shane Hird]

Before Sheedy took over and changed the attitude of the players,this is how Frank remembered the days back in about 1980...as told in a 2001 interview.

"Footy was pretty social then. I started hanging out with a group of country guys like Glenn Hawker,Russell Muir. Merv Neagle and Wayne Primmer. After the Twos played,we'd drive straight up to Horsham,drink half the night and then get back the next day."


And on the 1984 GF....

"We were 23 points down at the last change but we could see they were slowing and cramping. Kevin was really positive and told us to keep working at it,then the breaks came our way."

'In '85, I played almost every game but did my knee just before the finals and missed that second flag,but I was pleased Steve Carey got in as he'd been such a loyal clubman."


100 games with EFC and 15 games with the Bears.


In 1990,he served four years as captain-coach of St Bernards and won an A-grade flag. He then had a three year break from footy before coaching North Old boys for 5 years (as of 2001).


On coaching.....

" I was lucky to learn from one of the games great coaches. I still use Kevin's ideas such as pressuring the ball carrier and winning the tight contests."

 

[pazza]

Under-rated member of a strong side.

Have met him many times in amateur footy. Top bloke.

 

[daveyboy3]

You sure you don't mean 85???

The 84 side came back from 4 goals at 3/4 time to win, I don't think that team coached itself....

I mean 84- he said the players made their own moves at 3/4 time.

 

[twoshoes]

I work at St Patricks where Frank went to school. Would he be the first Qlder to win a premiership? As an addition Cheynee Stiller is also an ex student as are Michael Crocker (storm) and Drew Mitchell (wallabies) while Brendan Whitecross (draft camp attendee) is a current student.

 

[Pumper Rubberfunk]

1984 Bomber Premiership player Frank Dunell is one of those blokes we tend to forget about a bit. Probably because he was part of a side that included many champions and superstars.

He became a very successful business man after footy and also coached Premiership teams at A-grade amateur level in metro Melb.

Does anyone have any memories or stories about ol' Frankie?

Big frankie dunell was working for the same mob as myself up until a few months ago. Frank was working for PowerTel a telco he was in the sales area and got made redundant thanks to those sheep hurting folk of AAPT..
Cracking bloke loves a coldie and a good old fashion footy yarn, he may have been the one who told be about bomber screwing matty scarletts mrs last year..