Len McCankie

Len McCankie
Personal information
Full name Len McCankie
Date of birth 8 November 1924
Date of death 15 May 2003
Original team North Footscray
Height/Weight 180 cm / 85 kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1941–1950 Footscray 143 (10)
1 Playing statistics to end of 1950 season .

Len McCankie (8 November 1924 - 15 May 2003)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1940s.

McCankie, a half back and ruckman, was only 16 when he made his league debut in 1941.[2] He represented the VFL in the 1947 Hobart Carnival, having also appeared at interstate level in 1945. During his time with Footscray he played in four semi finals but was never part of a winning finals team.[2] At the end of the 1950 season, the now vice-captain was in the running to replace Arthur Olliver as playing coach but the job went to Charlie Sutton instead.[3]

He instead took up the position of North Hobart captain-coach, leading them from 1951 to 1953, with the highlight being a grand final appearance in his first season. In 1953 he captain-coached Tasmania in the Adelaide Carnival and won the first ever Lefroy Medal.[4] From 1955 to 1956, McCankie was coach of Welshpool in the Alberton Football League.

References

  1. ^ Lovett, Michael (2004). AFL 2004 - The Official Statistical History Of The AFL. AFL Publishing. ISBN 0958030057. 
  2. ^ a b AFL Tables: Len McCankie
  3. ^ Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785. 
  4. ^ "Len McCankie (Footscray & North Hobart)". Full Points Footy. http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/mc.htm#Len%20McCankie%20%28Footscray%20&%20North%20Hobart%29.