| Frank Donnellan | |
| Fullname: | James Francis Donnellan |
| Birth Date: | 17 November 1907 |
| Birth Place: | Clifton Hill, Victoria |
| Death Place: | Victoria, Australia |
| Originalteam: | Xavier College |
| Height: | 184 cm |
| Statsend: | 1934 |
| Years1: | 1926 |
| Games Goals1: | 3 (2) |
| Years2: | 1927; 1931–32 |
| Games Goals2: | 18 (8) |
| Years3: | 1933–34 |
| Games Goals3: | 36 (0) |
| Games Goalstotal: | 57 (10) |
James Francis Donnellan (17 November 1907 – 5 July 1994) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
The son of James Francis Donnellan and Margaret Ann Fitzgerald, Frank Donnellan was educated at Xavier College in Kew and was a prominent player in their 1924 premiership side.[2]
Donnellan trialled with in 1925[3] but joined Hawthorn in 1926, making his debut at full-forward in their 141-point loss to Melbourne[4] and making two other appearances before being dropped to the reserves.
Having been released by Hawthorn at the commencement of the 1927 VFL season,[5] Donnellan played with Thornbury in the C.Y.M.S. Association and then moved to North Melbourne[6] and made a solitary appearance late in the season. During the next few years Donnellan did not play VFL football, again playing with Thornbury,[7] but he resumed with North Melbourne halfway through the 1931 VFL season and made 17 consecutive appearances in the team. During this run of games he changed position from being a key forward to playing at full-back.
At the start of the 1933 VFL season, Donnellan transferred to Fitzroy[8] and he played as full-back in every game for the next two seasons before his retirement.
In 1935 Frank Donnellan married Jane Elizabeth O’Connell[9] and they lived in Melbourne until his death in 1994. Donnellan is buried at the Andersons Creek Cemetery in Warrandyte.[10]