Ross McKinnon

Ross McKinnon (1914-1962) was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. Born in Oberon, New South Wales, he played for the University, Eastern Suburbs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side.

Ross McKinnon
Personal information
Full nameRoss Lachlan McKinnon
Born(1914-04-15)15 April 1914
Oberon, New South Wales
Died25 May 1962(1962-05-25) (aged 48)
Camperdown, New South Wales
Playing information
PositionCentre, Five-eighth
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1933–34Sydney University181207
1935–38Eastern Suburbs23911049
1939–4?Cessnock
Total411013056
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1933–37New South Wales70204
1935–37City NSW31309
1935–38Australia83009
1939–40Country NSW214011
Coaching information
Club
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
1946–47Canterbury-Bankstown32212966
1952–53North Sydney362111458
1959North Sydney189950
Total865133259
Source: [1]

Playing career

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McKinnon, who attended Sydney Boys High, graduating in 1932,[2] started playing at the University club as a five-eighth. He then joined Eastern Suburbs and played with them for four seasons between 1935 and 1938, and won two premierships with them in 1935 and 1937.

McKinnon was selected to go on the 1937-38 Kangaroo tour.[3] He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 195.[4]

After McKinnon finished playing in Australia's major rugby league competition – the NSWRL he moved to the more rural locality of Cessnock, New South Wales where the Centre played out the remainder of his career as the captain coach of that side. He took them to a Newcastle Rugby League's grand final victory in 1941.[5]

Post playing

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McKinnon later returned to Sydney and coached Canterbury-Bankstown, taking them to the play-offs in 1946 and in 1947 to the Grand final.[6] He also coached North Sydney in 1952, 1953 and 1959.

In 1962, at the age of 48, following an operation on a brain tumor he died of coronary occlusion.[7]

Although he was married twice, McKinnon was never able to have children due to injuries.

References

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  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ http://www.shsobu.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sport.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ Whiticker, Alan. "Ross McKinnon". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  4. ^ ARL Annual Report 2005, page 53
  5. ^ "Club History". cessnockrugbyleague.net.au. Cessnock Rugby League Football Club. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Ross McKinnon". thebulldogs.com.au. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Ross McKinnon". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Coach

North Sydney

1959
Succeeded by
Preceded by Coach

North Sydney

1952–1953
Succeeded by
Rex Harrison
1954-1955
Preceded by Coach

Canterbury-Bankstown

1946–1947
Succeeded by