It may have been ten years in the making but Saturday will prove to be a most satisfying and memorable day for number 41 for the Mayne seniors this week. Veteran wingman Keane (Keno) White will line up for senior match number 100 after debuting back in 2001 at Kedron versus the Western Magpies. Keno holds fond memories of that match which just so happened to be the club’s first game back in the QAFL after being banished for a year by the league:
“Mayne had been re-admitted back into the State League after winning the court case against the league and my old man said why don’t you have a go at State League and play for his old club, Mayne. So I switched over to play State League from Sandgate. It was a great day and it was the biggest crowd I’d ever seen at a local game for years. Housey kicked 10 and the celebrations went all night. From then I knew that this was the club for me.”
As has always been the case over the years the tigers had some excellent players at the top end of their list, with that side boasting super players in Andrew Housego, ex Lion Richard Champion, the Nolan brothers and Brad Johns. Nevertheless Keno has only one man at the top of his best players list - Housey - his captain for his entire senior career his go to man.
“…been playing with and against him since under 7’s. Plays brilliant with injuries that most blokes have a month off for.”
Whilst Keno is perhaps one of the less fleet footed wingmen in the competition he certainly has made up for it with his footy smarts and ability to use the ball effectively. He has displayed tremendous courage at times as well, particularly early on in his career when he sported his own version of “sports specs” which could be a bullseye for opponents! The change to contact lenses had a noticeable effect on his night vision too.
Keno has recently embarked on a coaching career in his role as assistant coach to the under 18 Mayne tigers side giving him a first hand look at the talent (Murray Laing his pick for rising star) No doubt he has drawn on the experience of playing under a diverse range of senior coaches, notably Bomber Adams, Neil Bourke, Rob Dickfos, Mitch Ferguson and Luke Faulkner. Bourkey in particular had some classic moments in the dugout:
“Real early on in 2001 the day Neil Bourke sprayed me at half time and gave me a milkshake (for the young guys when the coach picks you up and shakes you) about not getting a kick and I hadn’t even been on the ground at all.”
Similarly Keno has had the privilege and at times daunting task of playing on some whippets out in the expanses of Everton with roughhouse PBC utility Ryan Rogers the pick of the bunch:
“…he was a dirty prick. I always hated playing on tall guys that drifted forward on a wing and he was one of them.”
The usual suspects feature in Keno’s reflections on past team mates with Luke Ferguson’s ability to kick the ball the wrong way on the field (more than twice) a gem, Brad Johns’ deadly accurate goal kicking and Matt Jones’ ability to entertain the masses a featured memory.
As the sun sets on a disappointing season for the Tigers this Saturday the club will still be able to send off one our most reliable and committed team mates in Keane White as he registers game number 100. There will be none prouder after the match than his father and club stalwart Meyrick who has been at nearly every game he has played. Although typically a non-drinker Keno will likely slip in a couple of quiet chardies and cast his astute eye over a poker table at some point late in the night and raise his glass to a wonderful milestone.
Congratulations Keane and all the best this week and for the rest of your footy career.
Last Modified on 25/11/2011 17:14