DOB: 16 November 1960
Debut: Round 3, 1979 against South Melbourne at Lake Oval
Last Game: Round 11, 1984 against St. Kilda at Moorabbin
From: Kyabram
Number: 23 (1979-1984)
Honours:
Reserves Premiership player - 1984
Life Member - 2017
Games: 80
Goals: 67
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 18 | 0 | 62 | 22.50 |
First shown in the 1978 Scholarship Squad under his real first name 'Noel', wingman O'Donnell played 18 games in his first two seasons before becoming a regular in the 1981 season, playing 20 games. In 1982 he added another 16 games despite missing four games with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone in Round 9, 1982.
He was again a regular in 1983, but his 1984 season was ruined by knee and leg injuries. O'Donnell then joined Fitzroy in early 1985 as part of the deal which saw Les Parish move to the Demons but broke his shoulder and didn't play a game for the Lions. When told his senior opportunities would be limited in 1986 he chose to retire during the pre-season.
Played for Nightcliff in the Northern Territory in 1988, and played for the NT in the Bicentennial Carnival interstate tournament.
O'Donnell had eight years as coach of the Murray Bushrangers before moving to Fremantle as an assistant coach in 2001. He was appointed Development Coach at Melbourne in 2009 and in 2012 moved into a role in Pro Scouting, looking at mature aged players where he remained through 2014.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1979 | 11 | 8 | 0 |
| 1980 | 7 | 9 | 0 |
| 1981 | 20 | 30 | 0 |
| 1982 | 16 | 11 | 2 |
| 1983 | 21 | 7 | 1 |
| 1984 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
Media
Age - 26/05/1982
Age - 26/03/1985
Football Record R3 1986