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 name	Ross Lachlan McKinnon
Born	15 April 1914 Oberon, New South Wales
Died	25 May 1962 (aged 48) Camperdown, New South Wales
Playing information
Position	Centre, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1933–34 Sydney University 18 1 2 0 7 1935–38 Eastern Suburbs 23 9 11 0 49 1939–4? Cessnock Total 41 10 13 0 56 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1933–37 New South Wales 7 0 2 0 4 1935–37 City NSW 3 1 3 0 9 1935–38 Australia 8 3 0 0 9 1939–40 Country NSW 2 1 4 0 11
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1946–47 Canterbury-Bankstown 32 21 2 9 66 1952–53 North Sydney 36 21 1 14 58 1959 North Sydney 18 9 9 50 Total 86 51 3 32 59
Source: [1]

Playing career

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 1935–1938, 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

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

1. Rugby League Project
2. http://www.shsobu.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sport.pdf
3. Whiticker, Alan. "Ross McKinnon". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. 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.