After leaving school Donnelly trained with Essendon Juniors before going to South Australia where he played with the senior squad of Sturt Football Club.

[3] Towards the end of the 1925 season he had his playing permit cancelled after it was decided by the League Investigations Committee that he was residentially bound to North Melbourne.

[5] Although he failed to register a win he did lead North Melbourne to a controversial draw with Hawthorn Football Club in Round 13.

Hawthorn were leading by a point when the bell sounded but Donnelly, who was running with the ball at the time, kicked a behind to level the scores.

After playing two senior games for the Kangaroos and several in the reserves North finally relented and Donnelly became a Bomber as clearances close on 30 June 1930.