The Western Bulldogs have signed James O’Donnell, the son of former Australian cricketer Simon O’Donnell, as a convert from cricket.

The Bulldogs have signed O’Donnell, who has been playing Premier Cricket for Essendon, as a category B rookie - the same rule that Geelong used to recruit Mark Blicavs from athletics and Collingwood deployed to sign American Mason Cox.

O’Donnell’s father Simon, who is also a well-known media personality, played football for St Kilda, where his father Kevin also played in the 1940s, making James a prospective third generation of the family to play the game at the top level.

O’Donnell is an all-rounder at Premier Cricket level, but has a football pedigree, having played for Victoria in the under 12s, alongside North Melbourne’s Will Phillips and Bulldog Luke Cleary. He concentrated mainly on cricket at Xavier College.

O’Donnell, 21, had a late growth spurt at 18-19 years of age, according to club sources, and is 197 centimetres - making him a potential key-position prospect, although the Bulldogs are open-minded about what positions he might fill. He had been a midfield-sized player when he last played the game.

The Bulldogs’ expectation is that he could start playing in defence, where it is easier to learn the game. He has not played football since his latter school days.

O’Donnell tested strongly for athletic traits when assessed by the Bulldogs, showing good speed and endurance.

O’Donnell will join training at the Bulldogs on Friday.

The Bulldogs found O’Donnell via the club’s head of high-performance Mat Inness, who is involved at Essendon Cricket Club. They do not expect O’Donnell to play immediately and will give him time to adjust to the game.