Ronald Charles George McCann (25 June 1913 – 15 February 1996) was a professional athlete and an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1][2][3]
| Ron McCann | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 McCann in 1947 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ronald Charles George McCann | ||
| Date of birth | 25 June 1913 | ||
| Place of birth | Thornbury, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 15 February 1996 (aged 82) | ||
| Place of death | Queensland | ||
| Original team(s) | Castlemaine | ||
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Weight | 72 kg (159 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1936 | Collingwood | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1936. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editThe son of Charles Edward Wilson McCann (1880-1948), and Alice Eva McCann (1881-1955), née West, Ronald Charles George McCann was born on 25 June 1913.
He married Joy Randall (1914-2009) in 1937; they had two children, Roberta, and Diane.
Professional athlete
editHe was a professional athlete.[4]
Australasian Professional Championship (600 yards)
editIn March 1935, he won the 1935 Australasian Professional 600 Yards Championship by 5 yards;[5] his time, 1min 133⁄16secs, was only 13⁄16seconds outside the world record set by the champion quarter- and half-miler, John Denham "Jack" Fitt (1900-1985).
Stawell Gift
editHaving beaten the South Melbourne footballer and champion sprinter Austin Robertson in the heats,[6] and running off a handicap of 61⁄2 yards,[7] McCann won the 1936 Stawell Gift, "in the last stride",[8] in 12 4⁄16 seconds,[9][10][11] beating the schoolteacher and Glenelg wingman, Jack McCarthy (101⁄4 yards, second), the Footscray centreman, Bob Spargo Sr. (93⁄4 yards, third), and the Fitzroy half-back, Leslie Watt (101⁄2 yards, fourth).[12][13]
Football
editCastlemaine Football Club (BFL)
editPromoted from the club's Seconds,[14] he played for the Castlemaine Football Club's First XVIII in 1934 and 1935.[15][16]
Collingwood (VFL)
editHaving signed a Form Four in early 1936,[17] R.C.G. McCann was granted a clearance from Castlemaine to Collingwood on Wednesday, 28 May 1936.[18]
Having played in the Seconds, he played in his only senior match for Collingwood, against Footscray, at the Western Oval on 20 June 1936, when he replaced the indisposed Leo Morgan, and played on the wing.
Prahran (VFA)
editOn 14 April 1937, McCann was cleared from Collingwood to Prahran.[19] He played the entire season with the Seconds and did not play a Senior game.
Military service
editHe served with the RAAF in Dutch New Guinea during World War II.[20]
References
edit- ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 565. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
- ^ Collingwood, The Age, (Wednesday, 1 April 1936), p.17.
- ^ Stawell Winner McCann for St. Kilda", The Age, (11 June 1942), p.4.
- ^ "Ron McCann: Gamest Runner in Australia", The (Kalgoorlie) Goldfields Observer, (Sunday, 26 April 1936, p.5.
- ^ Australasian Professional Championship, The Age (Thursday, 14 March 1935), p.12.
- ^ Stawell Gift, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Tuesday, 14 April 1936), p.15.
- ^ Namely, "the shortest mark since Tim Banner won way back in 1925. Banner won from 5 yards, and McCann from 61⁄2": Goldfields Observer, 26 April 1936.
- ^ "Stawell Gift Winner is Versatile", The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph, (Tuesday, 14 April 1936), p.32.
- ^ McCann wins Gift, The Argus, (Tuesday 14 April 1936), p.14.
- ^ Stawell Gift Winner, The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph, (Wednesday, 15 April 1936), p.26.
- ^ Stawell Gift Winner, The (Perth) Daily News, (Monday, 20 April 1936), p.3.
- ^ Four Placed Men all Footballers, The (Adelaide) News, (Tuesday, 14 April 1936), p.6.
- ^ (Photograph of the finish), The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 18 April 1936), p.68.
- ^ Castlemaine's Recruits, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 28 April 1934), p.60.
- ^ "Country Football — Castlemaine Defeated Maryborough At Castlemaine, Weekly Times, (Saturday, 18 August 1934, p.40: the team photograph also includes future St Kilda footballer, Jack Showell (fourth from left, back row), and future Melbourne footballer, Ron Barassi Sr. (third from left, centre row), as well as McCann (second from right, centre row).
- ^ Bendigo League Football — Sandhurst Defeated Castlemaine", Weekly Times, (Saturday 13 October 1934), p.40: the team photograph also includes future St Kilda footballer, Jack Showell (second from right, back row), and future Melbourne footballer, Ron Barassi Sr. (second from left, centre row), as well as McCann (fourth from right, back row).
- ^ Footballers signed by League Clubs, The Age, (Friday, 28 February 1936, p.9.
- ^ Many Football Transfers, The Argus, (Thursday, 28 May 1936), p.17.
- ^ Footballer Receive Clearances, The Argus, (Thursday, 15 April 1937), p.15.
- ^ World War Two Nominal Roll: Flight Lieutenant Ronald Charles George McCann (O3198), Department of Veterans' Affairs.
External links
edit
- Ron McCann's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Ron McCann's profile at Collingwood Forever
- Ronald Charles George McCann at New South Wales Australian Football History Society
- NSW Australian Football League v. St Kilda at Erskineville Oval on 15 September 1945, collection of the New South Wales Australian Football History Society
