John Dallas Donnelly 1955-1986

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Dallas was a legend, he actually kicked a field goal one day, many great stories about Dallas, like when Masters use to walk around the sheds and ask what are you going to do to your opposite number.
Terry Lamb was next to Dallas and heard Dallas tell Roy about belting his opposite, ripping his head off and a few more colourful phrases, turned to Lamb and said, " And what are you going to do to your opposite number".
Lamb looked Roy in the eye and said " Give him to Dallas."

A classic

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/facebook-sheds-light-shooting-victim/1347685/

I am just catching up on the unfortunate circumstances of Neil Pringle son's death.

http://www.tenterfieldstar.com.au/story/1950436/father-shares-in-police-pain/

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

With Gallagher on this, not sure how you could call yourself a Maggies fan and not know about his death?

Especially if you were living in Byron around the time he died.

Agree with everyone else, from the highlights I've seen he was tougher than a coffin nail and all the stories I have heard about him he seemed like a total legend.

It may have been that I was also rotating between Byron Bay and Lidcombe where I was helping nurse my extremely sick mother who suffered terribly before dying a few years later. I left my good job in Lismore due to this - and good jobs were very hard to come by in those days.

Yeah I'd wager would have been enough to put you out of touch with Rugby League events.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

Dallas was the ultimate team man, loved by all but hated by Manly.

I was at Lidcombe Oval in 1986 for the first home game of the year against Penrith and they had his jersey on a chair near the sideline. I think the whole crowd was crying when the Magpies ran past his jersey and touched it.

Still lost the bloody game though.

Was leading Penrith till Alexander scored late. They actually had his jersey on the hill side and Burns who I believe was meant to play in No. 11 played in No. 40.

Also remember when they awarded Dallas life membership in 1984 in our last home game against Canterbury. Everyone thought we would be booted out again in a few weeks as we were before coming back through the courts and Canterbury probably fielded their best ever side that year and Dallas was way overweight and finished languishing in reserves but they picked him in firsts that day and at HT they had him paraded on the back of a ute with a life size painting of himself. Bittersweet memories.
The 78 to 81 period was his best. That partnership he formed with Bruce Gibbs was awesome. They feud with Manly's Randall lasted for years.

 

[gallagher]

Dallas was the ultimate team man, loved by all but hated by Manly.

I was at Lidcombe Oval in 1986 for the first home game of the year against Penrith and they had his jersey on a chair near the sideline. I think the whole crowd was crying when the Magpies ran past his jersey and touched it.

Still lost the bloody game though.

Was leading Penrith till Alexander scored late. They actually had his jersey on the hill side and Burns who I believe was meant to play in No. 11 played in No. 40.

Also remember when they awarded Dallas life membership in 1984 in our last home game against Canterbury. Everyone thought we would be booted out again in a few weeks as we were before coming back through the courts and Canterbury probably fielded their best ever side that year and Dallas was way overweight and finished languishing in reserves but they picked him in firsts that day and at HT they had him paraded on the back of a ute with a life size painting of himself. Bittersweet memories.
The 78 to 81 period was his best. That partnership he formed with Bruce Gibbs was awesome. They feud with Manly's Randall lasted for years.

I think it was bruiser who was supposed to wear the 11 that day.

 

[240z]

Dallas was the ultimate team man, loved by all but hated by Manly.

I was at Lidcombe Oval in 1986 for the first home game of the year against Penrith and they had his jersey on a chair near the sideline. I think the whole crowd was crying when the Magpies ran past his jersey and touched it.

Still lost the bloody game though.

Was leading Penrith till Alexander scored late. They actually had his jersey on the hill side and Burns who I believe was meant to play in No. 11 played in No. 40.

Also remember when they awarded Dallas life membership in 1984 in our last home game against Canterbury. Everyone thought we would be booted out again in a few weeks as we were before coming back through the courts and Canterbury probably fielded their best ever side that year and Dallas was way overweight and finished languishing in reserves but they picked him in firsts that day and at HT they had him paraded on the back of a ute with a life size painting of himself. Bittersweet memories.
The 78 to 81 period was his best. That partnership he formed with Bruce Gibbs was awesome. They feud with Manly's Randall lasted for years.

I think it was bruiser who was supposed to wear the 11 that day.

Yep it was Bruce Clarke - see page 245 of the first edition of Clouds of dust, buckets of Blood, there is a picture of Brusier running past Dallas's jumper. The jumper was placed in front of the Members area. I'm sure it was Alexanders first grade debut as well.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Dallas won a trifecta once, using his lucky numbers, 1, 10 and 11.

A true character of the game.

Do you mean he knocked out three players of the opposing team - numbers 1, 10 and 11?

 

[tiger_one]

Dallas won a trifecta once, using his lucky numbers, 1, 10 and 11.

A true character of the game.

Do you mean he knocked out three players of the opposing team - numbers 1, 10 and 11?

I like that answer but the truth was not that (although he well might have tried a few times).
No, the thing was that, back in the day, there was only 2 races per raceday where the TAB allowed betting on trifectas.
Dallas always backed a box trifecta, and he picked the same 3 numbers in each trifecta race.
(By definition, a box trifecta is a type of trifecta bet where the bettor selects a number of runners (in this case 3) to fill the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The beauty of a box trifecta is that the runners can finish in any order so long as they fill the first 3 places.)
And in Dallas' case, his numbers' selections were always the same : 1, 10 and 11 made up simply of the numerals that he thought best signified his jersey number of 11, ie 1 + 10 = 11.
The winning bet was huge back page news in the day - Dallas had his 15 mins of fame, the races received great publicity, and the TAB turnover spiked for weeks after!

 

[MG1962]

One of my favorite memories involving Dallas was back in 1981\. Canberra had been admitted to the comp and their first game was against Wests. We went down for the game, Magpies won easily and we all had a great time.

The next day the Canberra Times did a write up of the game. From their tone they were very unimpressed with new fangled rugby league and went on to catalogue the various deficiencies of the West Magpies players

For Dallas they said "If a hippopotamus could get up on its hind legs and run, it would look just like John Donnelly"

Very cruel, but ya got to admit funny as…...........

 

[innsaneink]

Dallas was a legend, he actually kicked a field goal one day, many great stories about Dallas, like when Masters use to walk around the sheds and ask what are you going to do to your opposite number.
Terry Lamb was next to Dallas and heard Dallas tell Roy about belting his opposite, ripping his head off and a few more colourful phrases, turned to Lamb and said, " And what are you going to do to your opposite number".
Lamb looked Roy in the eye and said " Give him to Dallas."

He kicked about 4 or 5 I think… He liked pies too

 

[innsaneink]

Dallas won a trifecta once, using his lucky numbers, 1, 10 and 11.

A true character of the game.

Do you mean he knocked out three players of the opposing team - numbers 1, 10 and 11?

I like that answer but the truth was not that (although he well might have tried a few times).
No, the thing was that, back in the day, there was only 2 races per raceday where the TAB allowed betting on trifectas.
Dallas always backed a box trifecta, and he picked the same 3 numbers in each trifecta race.
(By definition, a box trifecta is a type of trifecta bet where the bettor selects a number of runners (in this case 3) to fill the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The beauty of a box trifecta is that the runners can finish in any order so long as they fill the first 3 places.)
And in Dallas' case, his numbers' selections were always the same : 1, 10 and 11 made up simply of the numerals that he thought best signified his jersey number of 11, ie 1 + 10 = 11.
The winning bet was huge back page news in the day - Dallas had his 15 mins of fame, the races received great publicity, and the TAB turnover spiked for weeks after!

I'd forgotten there were only selected races for tris, also daily & extra double… 50c units

Onya Dallas

 

[851]

Dallas was a legend, he actually kicked a field goal one day, many great stories about Dallas, like when Masters use to walk around the sheds and ask what are you going to do to your opposite number.
Terry Lamb was next to Dallas and heard Dallas tell Roy about belting his opposite, ripping his head off and a few more colourful phrases, turned to Lamb and said, " And what are you going to do to your opposite number".
Lamb looked Roy in the eye and said " Give him to Dallas."

He kicked about 4 or 5 I think… He liked pies too

Yeh you are right, he kicked 4, but he kicked one on ABC TV Saturday big game, maybe against saints to win the game, I remember watching and just laughing at the big fella.

 

[Liddy]

I remember being at Lidcombe Oval, can't remember who Wests were playing, but in those days the toss was on the field.
Wests had to change ends and as Dallas was running past halfway to change ends, he clocks an opposing player and keeps going.
The game is set up to start and this opposing player is lying on the ground at halfway, before the whistle is blown.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

I remember being at Lidcombe Oval, can't remember who Wests were playing, but in those days the toss was on the field.
Wests had to change ends and as Dallas was running past halfway to change ends, he clocks an opposing player and keeps going.
The game is set up to start and this opposing player is lying on the ground at halfway, before the whistle is blown.

Probably no video cameras to catch it on so was it the Hand of God?

 

[JD Tiger]

I remember being at Lidcombe Oval, can't remember who Wests were playing, but in those days the toss was on the field.
Wests had to change ends and as Dallas was running past halfway to change ends, he clocks an opposing player and keeps going.
The game is set up to start and this opposing player is lying on the ground at halfway, before the whistle is blown.

I'm still laughing, that is hilarious.