By Mark Heenanand KIRstie Reeve
DANE McKinnon made a fairytale debut for Werribee RSL Bowls Club’s top men’s pennant side on Saturday.
And at the age of 12, there’s plenty of time to improve his game.
The Wyndham Vale resident was not only part of a team which beat Armadale with a resounding 18/144 to 0/68 scoreline, but his rink returned the best result for the club.
“His rink won by 23 and they got the glasses for the best winning rink for the club for the day,” father Graham said.
After a celebratory tipple of Dane’s drink of choice – Fanta – the glass has taken pride of place in the McKinnon’s trophy cabinet.
Graham said his son was named in the top pennant side after one of the regular team members had a knee operation, and put in a consistent performance.
“It was a fairytale, to be honest,” Graham said.
“I was actually playing at the same time, but I was probably looking at what he was doing rather than concentrating on my own game.
The youngster was also cheered along by his team-mates, with cries of ‘Go, D-Mac’ and ‘Onya, D-Mac’ carrying across the greens.
“It’ll be a tough job for the selectors this week because he’s probably bowled well enough to hold his spot,” Graham said.
Dane has played bowls at Werribee RSL for the past three years, and has been around the club for almost half of his life.
Graham is the skipper of the club’s fourth pennant team.
“Dane used to help around the club setting up and cleaning the clubrooms when he was six years of age,” he said.
“I’ve been around been the club for a long time and it’s a (great) experience for Dane to be playing firsts.
“He started off playing in the number three side and worked his way from there.”
Dane, a student at McKillop College in Werribee, is a sports fanatic, having captained his primary school football side and successfully competing as a cross-country distance runner. And Graham said his son was also interested in pursuing an AFL career.
“He lives and breathes sport,” Graham said.
“And he loves his football, he wants to play at the top level.
“Although I get asked a bit ‘what’s your kid playing lawn bowls for?’”
