Background
McGain was born in Carlton but played his early football for New South Wales club Mathoura, after moving to the state to become a horse-breaker.
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Syd McGain
Edit ProfileCareer
A wingman, McGain played for Pascoe Vale when he returned to Melbourne, then joined Essendon and made one appearances for the club in the 1938 VFL season. Due to a pay dispute, McGain would left Essendon for Fitzroy. McGain played eight league games for Fitzroy in 1940, but added just four more games over the next three years.
He was convinced to cross to North Melbourne during the 1943 season, after their captain Dally O"Brien offered to send a car to take him to training from his army base in Maribyrnong.
At North Melbourne he played 12 senior games, six each in 1943 and 1945. He was one of the founders of the Strathmore Football Club in the 1950s and acted as their first ever coach.
The Syd McGain Oval in Strathmore is named in his honour, renamed from Lebanon Park in 1997.
Achievements
Membership
From 1947 to 1949, McGain was a member of the VFL Umpires Association and officiated in various leagues across the state.
