Alexander McKinnon

Born 3/3/1878 in Smeaton (Clayton) Victoria, he died 31/5/1944 in Brisbane. Alex was a front-row forward. He played his sole Test in 1904 on the 23rd of July. He played for Queensland from 1903-1905. His club side was the Valley for which he played from 1902-1905, where he was to become the club secretary. He was a draughtsman by profession. When McKinnon scored a try for Queensland against NSW “he showed great pace over 50m” and in a game against NSW in 1904, he scored the only points, from two penalty kicks. NSW won 11-6. The following is in reference to the 1904 British tour of Australia during a mid -week or warm- up game. There was an unpleasant incident in the game that set the tone for the violence that characterised the matches in Brisbane. Fiery Blair Swannell, back for his second visit to Australia as a late replacement for Tom Kelly, stomped on loose forward McKinnon, who left the field with a badly cut head only to return and produce a performance that was to win the Valleys forward a Test cap.

Alex also had a good tour match game against the British playing for Queensland, which helped him earn his Test spot. In a British tour match (July 9, 1904), he played against Britain at the Brisbane Exhibition ground. Queensland lost 24 to 0. He also played (July 16, 1904) at the Brisbane Exhibition ground, Queensland lost again 18 to 7. In 1905 he continued to play for Queensland but was unable to re-make the Australian Test side, even with a few gifted performances for his State.