VALE Chester MacKean

PREMIERSHIP RUCKMAN DIES

Dual Perth premiership player Chester Mackean, who was a prominent member of coach Ken Armstrong’s strong league sides during the 1970s, died on February 22 after a battle with cancer. He was aged 66.

Chester was a strongly built athletic ruckman and skilful palmer of the ball. He made his league debut in 1973 and went on to play 100 games in a career that extended to 1980.

He was a reserve in the 1976 premiership side. But the next year Chester was in the selected 18 and, starting in the back pocket and changing with lead ruckman Wim Rosbender, celebrated another grand final victory. Wim recalled that Chester, who joined the Demons from Toodyay, possessed a prodigious leap. 

Chester had retired after a 40-year career with the WA Fire Brigade.

The Club extends its sincere sympathy to his wife Corinne, daughters Kelly and Jemma, son John and the whole Mackean family.

PETER KENNEDY