Kevin O'Neill (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
Kevin O'Neill was an Australian rules football
er who played in the VFL between 1930 and 1941 for the Richmond Football Club
.
The son of a former Richmond
player from its days in the VFA, O'Neill was a member of the Tigers'
legendary "Three Musketeers" backline of Bolger
, Sheahan
and O'Neill. He played in four straight senior Grand Finals
from 1931 to 1934, winning the premiership in 1932 and 1934. He also played in Richmond's
losing Grand Final
side of 1940.
O'Neill represented Victoria on ten occasions, as State vice-captain for an Interstate Carnival, and was awarded Life Membership of the Richmond Football Club
in 1939.
During the Second World War
he served in the RAAF
.
He returned to the Tigers
briefly in 1944 as Captain/Coach of the Seconds side.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played in the VFL between 1930 and 1941 for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
The son of a former Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
player from its days in the VFA, O'Neill was a member of the Tigers'
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
legendary "Three Musketeers" backline of Bolger
Martin Bolger
Martin Joseph Bolger was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1930 and 1939 for the Richmond Football Club....
, Sheahan
Maurie Sheahan
Maurie Sheahan was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1929 and 1936 for the Richmond Football Club.A member of Richmond's legendary "Three Musketeers" backline of Bolger, Sheahan and O'Neill, he played in the premiership teams of 1932 and 1934 as well as the losing Grand...
and O'Neill. He played in four straight senior Grand Finals
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
from 1931 to 1934, winning the premiership in 1932 and 1934. He also played in Richmond's
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
losing Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
side of 1940.
O'Neill represented Victoria on ten occasions, as State vice-captain for an Interstate Carnival, and was awarded Life Membership of the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in 1939.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
.
He returned to the Tigers
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
briefly in 1944 as Captain/Coach of the Seconds side.