O'Connell honoured with Under 19's Medal
MEDIA RELEASE
The Bendigo Football Netball League is pleased to share that the Best on Ground medal for an 'Unders' Interleague match has been named in honour of Bendigo FNL Hall of Fame member, Robert O’Connell.
A career of more than 250 senior BFNL matches started with Golden Square in 1974 where the man affectionately known as ‘Ninga’ would go on to score three premierships before heading to Eaglehawk where he’d claim another two for the Borough.
But it’s O’Connell’s representative football resume that stands out.
Robert represented the Blue & Gold of the BFL on 16 separate occasions including two as Captain in 1986 and 1987. He also represented Victoria Country in 1982.
When speaking to honour of receiving this type of recognition, Robert said, “It’s a massive honour. I was involved with interleague for many years and to be back involved in this way is very special for me.”
“Interleague Football is important for all involved and particularly the players. They are competing against the best of the best from other Leagues which helps bring the best out in everyone.”
Interleague provided Rob with many memories but the standouts are the overnight trips, “The comradery we developed on those overnight trips is something that lasts with you forever, a lot of us are still mates today.”
The first Robert O’Connell Medal will be awarded to the standout BFNL performer in the Under 19 Interleague clash against the VAFA, to be played on Sunday, July 13 at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Robert O’Connell Medal joins the Derrick Filo Medal for the BFNL player adjudged Best on Ground in a Senior Interleague match.
Robert will be in attendance on Sunday to award the medal to the winner.
The BFNL extends its thanks to Robert and his family for their support in accepting this recognition and looks forward to celebrating his legacy with this medal for years to come.
Extended Robert O'Connell story
Rising stars play for Robert ‘Ninga’ O’Connell medal
THE newly-minted Robert O’Connell Medal will be awarded to best-on-ground in the under-19s football clash between Bendigo and the Victorian Amateur’s rising stars.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, O’Connell was an outstanding centre half-back, firstly with Golden Square and then Eaglehawk.
The man dubbed ‘Ninga’ had uncanny judgement, strong hands and was a general in defence.
A career of more than 250 senior matches started with Golden Square in ’74 against South Bendigo.
It was a golden era for the Bulldogs who kicked off a run of seven grand final seasons across in eight seasons by winning the ’72 premiership.
‘Ninga’ played a key role in the Bulldogs’ premiership wins of ’75, ’76 and ’79.
He then crossed from Wade Street to Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park where his brilliant career had kicked off in the juniors.
‘Ninga’ starred in the Borough’s grand final wins of 1980 and ’82.
He later became captain-coach of the Hawks and led the team to grand final appearances against the formidable Northern United in 1986 and ’87.
Ninga played in five grand finals for Eaglehawk and the ’87 match for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup was his 250th senior match in the Bendigo FNL.
He was also selected in the league’s 80s Team of the Decade.
After a stint coaching Mount Pleasant in the Heathcote DFNL, O’Connell returned to Eaglehawk as coach in 1995 and ’96.
The Borough had turned to one of its “favourite sons” to try and turn on-field fortunes around.
There was not instant success, but Ninga’s planning played a key part in the Hawks becoming a formidable opponent once again in the early 1990s.
Among the many career highs was being selected as captain and centre half-back in Eaglehawk’s Team of the Century.
Coach of the Borough’s best across a century was the legendary John Ledwidge and included league heavyweights such as Basil Ashman, George Ilsley, Greg Kennedy and Alan ‘Bruiser’ Williams.
It is fitting a medal be struck to O’Connell who represented the Bendigo FNL in 16 matches, was captain of the blue and gold in 1986 and ’87, and also represented Victoria Country in 1982.
O’Connell was inducted to the Bendigo FNL Hall of Fame in 2010 in a group that included Golden Square’s Neville Strauch, Alan Patterson and Peter Davey, Borough team-mate Neil Monro, umpire Ron Threlfall, and Herb Milburn, long-time head trainer at Eaglehawk.
