Home
Search
thewest.com.au‌‌
ProfilesChevron Right IconCraig O'Donoghue
Photo of Craig O'Donoghue

Craig O'DonoghueSports Journalist

Craig O'Donoghue is part of The West Australian's sports writing team. He joined The West Australian in 2000 and spent 2013-14 working in the Melbourne bureau. He now focuses on AFL and basketball.

Email Craig O'DonoghueX @Craig_ODonoghue
Number one draft picks Willem Duursma and Harley Reid.

opinion
opinion
AFLCommentsPremium
opinion
Why it’s time to scrap Father-Son and Academy draft rules

Confusion, calculators and compromises shouldn’t be part of a draft system that was designed to make the AFL fairer. Instead of constantly changing the Father-Son and Academy rules, just scrap them.

Craig O'Donoghue

Hayden Young.

AFLCommentsJL heaps praise on Young: Why we don’t play him at half back

Hayden Young broke the game apart for Fremantle on Friday night and while there’s been calls for him to play in defence, coach Justin Longmuir knows match winners should always play in the midfield.

Craig O'Donoghue

Heath Chapman of the Dockers is congratulated by teammates after kicking a goal during.

AFLVideoCommentsSeventh heaven! Dockers make it seven magical wins in a row

Fremantle are in seventh heaven after a come from behind victory over the Western Bulldogs sent them to the top of the ladder and again showed they know how to lift when it matters.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle are flying home tonight after their clash with Western Bulldogs.

AFLCommentsPremiumREVEALED: Freo’s plan to boost recovery on six-day break

Fremantle are going to extraordinary lengths to maximise their recovery as they battle a run of shortened breaks between games.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle star Murphy Reid.

AFLVideoCommentsPremiumWe can’t teach that! How Magic Murphy keeps stunning Freo

Assistant coach Jaymie Graham admits Freo can’t take credit for some of the extraordinary things Murphy Reid does during games, saying the Rising Star arrived in WA with party tricks already packed in his bag.

Craig O'Donoghue

Nathan O'Driscoll in action.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
AFLCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
How Freo stars are rallying around O’Driscoll from Victoria

Fremantle are in Melbourne preparing for a Friday night blockbuster at the same time as teammate Nathan O’Driscoll has made his mental health battle public, but they are still doing everything to support him.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle star Hayden Young.

AFLVideoCommentsPremiumNo fear, no doubt: How star Docker overcame injury anxiety

Fremantle star Hayden Young has missed two full seasons of footy due to injury throughout his career, but he’s now worked out how to ignore the fear of breaking down again as he mounts another comeback.

Craig O'Donoghue

Elijah Pepper

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
BasketballCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Pepper eyes off change in role after returning to Wildcats

Perth Wildcats star Elijah Pepper has committed to another two years with the club and he’s got his eyes on a new role which would see him become even more valuable into the future.

Craig O'Donoghue

Luke Jackson.

AFLVideoCommentsPremiumHigh spirits at Freo training as Murphy Reid does more magic

The Dockers trained on Tuesday morning as they prepare to face the Western Bulldogs and all eyes were on Murphy Reid, Josh Treacy, Pat Voss, Brennan Cox and Hayden Young.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir at training on Tuesday.

AFLVideoCommentsPremiumDockers make call on resting stars during six-day breaks

Fremantle have three six-day breaks in a row as part of a tough fixture in the coming weeks and must decide whether to stick with the same players or give some guys a rest. Justin Longmuir has made that call.

Craig O'Donoghue

Sean Darcy.

AFLVideoCommentsOne more month: Longmuir gives update on Darcy

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy is recovering from a calf injury, and coach Justin Longmuir says the star big man may need to return to action through the WAFL.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle have become a force since their loss to St Kilda last year.

AFLCommentsPremiumBest in AFL across last 12 months: How Freo rose to the top

Fremantle will head to Victoria for Friday’s game against the Western Bulldogs as the best team in the AFL across the last 12 months, and it all began when they collapsed to St Kilda in this round last year.

Craig O'Donoghue