Son of BFC games record holder, Gerald O'Dwyer, Chris played all his junior footy with the Hawks before going to Assumption College, Kilmore. It was there that he attracted the attention of the Sydney Swans recruiting scouts and, on completion of his schooling, joined the Swans in 1990. A skillful right footer, he played mainly as an on-baller come half forward. On being delisted in '93, he went and forged out a successful Sydney Football League career with East Sydney, winning the league best and fairest in '94. In 1995, he rejoined the Swans on the supplementary list, being a member of the Swans Reserves Grand Final team. Played his first senior game with the Barooga Football Club in a one off appearance in the Reserves this year.