Ronald Charles George McCann (25 June 1913 – 15 February 1996) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Collingwood, The Age, (Wednesday, 1 April 1936), p.17.Stawell Winner McCann for St. Kilda", The Age, (11 June 1942), p.4.
Family The 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 He was a professional athlete."Ron McCann: Gamest Runner in Australia", The (Kalgoorlie) Goldfields Observer, (Sunday, 26 April 1936, p.5.
Australasian Professional Championship (600 yards) In March 1935, he won the 1935 Australasian Professional 600 Yards Championship by 5 yards;Australasian Professional Championship, The Age (Thursday, 14 March 1935), p.12. his time, 1min 13secs, was only 1seconds outside the world record set by the champion quarter- and half-miler, John Denham "Jack" Fitt (1900-1985).
Stawell Gift McCann won the Castlemaine Gift in March 1936 prior to having beaten the South Melbourne footballer and champion sprinter Austin Robertson in the 1936 Stawell Gift heats,Stawell Gift, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Tuesday, 14 April 1936), p.15. and running off a handicap of 6 yards,Namely, "the shortest mark since Tim Banner won way back in 1925. Banner won from 5 yards, and McCann from 6": Goldfields Observer, 26 April 1936. McCann won the 1936 Stawell Gift, "in the last stride","Stawell Gift Winner is Versatile", The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph, (Tuesday, 14 April 1936), p.32. in 12 seconds,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. beating the schoolteacher and Glenelg wingman, Jack McCarthy (10 yards, second), the Footscray centreman, Bob Spargo Sr. (9 yards, third), and the Fitzroy half-back, Leslie Watt (10 yards, fourth).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.
Football Castlemaine Football Club (BFL) Promoted from the club's Seconds,Castlemaine's Recruits, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 28 April 1934), p.60. he played for the Castlemaine Football Club's First XVIII in 1934 and 1935."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).
Collingwood (VFL) Having signed a Form Four in early 1936,Footballers signed by League Clubs, The Age, (Friday, 28 February 1936, p.9. R.C.G. McCann was granted a clearance from Castlemaine to Collingwood on Wednesday, 28 May 1936.Many Football Transfers, The Argus, (Thursday, 28 May 1936), p.17.
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) On 14 April 1937, McCann was cleared from Collingwood to Prahran.Footballer Receive Clearances, The Argus, (Thursday, 15 April 1937), p.15. He played the entire season with the Seconds and did not play a Senior game.
Military service He served with the RAAF in Dutch New Guinea during World War II.World War Two Nominal Roll: Flight Lieutenant Ronald Charles George McCann (O3198), Department of Veterans' Affairs.
References
External links
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