Kangaroo Kicker

Busloads of footballers from the bush have found fame in VFL/AFL once they were recruited to city-based clubs. Rather than single out any one player from another in fear of starting a never-ending conversation. 

But there is one player who made his mark playing for city clubs then playing and coaching American football on the US circuit.

He was Pat O'Dea, born in Kilmore in 1887 , third child in a family of eleven. He attended Xavier College, Melbourne and sporting records claim he came to attention with his prowess as a sprinter, rower and steeplechase rider.

His Dad ran the flour mill in Kilmore, and his Mum was fully occupied looking after her large family.

After graduating from Xavier, Pat joined the workforce.

 Built like a greyhound his next field of dreams was the MCG playing on the wing for Melbourne  (VFL). From the 'Redlegs' he was recruited to  Essendon.

Pat made the Victorian VFL squad in 1894.

Having made his name in Aussie Rules , Pat left on a eleven-week sea voyage to visit his elder brother in America. That trip turned out to make Pat one of the most famous names in American football, and definitely one of the early causalities of the paparazzi as we know them today.

A casual kick- to-kick with his new found Yankee buddies left them amazed with how far he could boot a football.

Within no time he was playing full back in the major league prior to official College football taking over.

His exploits on the paddock earned him the nickname 'Kangaroo Kicker', fans even wrote a song about him. Pat was on fire and everybody wanted to have a piece of him including tips on punting and place-kicking.

After his playing days came to an end, he coached Notre Dame University , then Missouri. He made the All-American team in 1899.

Never one for the celebrity life he rejected offers of $500  (imagine what that would be worth today ) to coach College football teams. 

Suddenly he vanished ; nobody knew where he was. Stories -some sordid - circulated about his death; how he returned to Australia,; they all made good headlines, yet untrue.

He had in fact assumed a new name , Charles Mitchell when he re-surfaced in 1934 complete with a law degree and wife..

Pat, the Kangaroo Kicker from Kilmore, educated in Melbourne died, aged 90 in 1982 , just days after President Kennedy sent Pat a personal letter saying how much he enjoyed the pleasure Pat had contributed to American football.

Author, John O'Keefe has more in store about mystery man Pat O'Shea, ring John O'Keefe  0408 344 905