Frank McDonald (footballer)


Francis Joseph "Frank" McDonald was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League.

Family

The son of John McDonald, and Margaret McDonald, née O'Brien, Francis Joseph McDonald was born at Allendale, Victoria on 21 September 1899; and, although his birth was registered as "Simon McDonald", throughout his life he was always known as "Francis Joseph McDonald".
He married Wilhelmina Phyllis Kruse in 1921.

Football

A full-forward, McDonald averaged two goals a game in his three seasons at Essendon. Recruited from the Victorian Football Association team, his first appearance for Essendon, in round 10 of the 1919 VFL season, was also his brother Paddy's last of nine games for Essendon.
McDonald twice won Essendon's leading goalkicker award. The first was in 1920, when he kicked 33 goals from only 11 games. This included a seven-goal haul against Geelong. He topped the goal-kicking again the following year, 1921, with 17 goals in 10 games.
He captain-coached Hamilton in 1922 and 1923. During the 1920s he also spent some time in charge of South Ballarat.

Death

He died at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Moreland Road, Coburg, on 28 May 1962.

Footnotes