Victorian Premier Cricket all-rounder James O'Donnell has reportedly signed with AFL club the Western Bulldogs for the year ahead.
O'Donnell, the son of former Australian cricketer Simon, was listed with Essendon alongside brother Tom for the 2022-23 summer, with the latter evening listed among the Melbourne Stars' squad late into the Big Bash season.
James, the younger of the two brothers, played three matches for Essendon over the summer, averaging 21.00 with the ball from two wickets as well as 5.00 runs with the bat.
After training with VFL club Footscray, a reserves affiliate for the Western Bulldogs, during the pre-season, O'Donnell has impressed the club enough to be signed to their AFL squad.
According toย The Age,ย the Bulldogs will add O'Donnell to their training program as early as this week after having the 21-year-old join their list as a category B rookie signing.
The code hop sees O'Donnell follow in the footsteps of his father, who not only played six Tests for Australia, but also played in 24 games for St Kilda in the 1980s.
He would make his international cricket in 1985 in an ODI against the West Indies, being the 83rd player to represent Australia in white-ball cricket.
Simon's father Kevin was also a member of the St Kilda Football Club in the 1940s, playing 49 games in the red, white and black.
James is rated as a tall defender, standing at 197cm.
