DANE McKinnon does not bowl any flippers at Werribee RSL bowls club but he did have some aces up his sleeve while playing for Victoria at the national junior lawn bowls championships in September.

Fresh from his gold medal-winning performance for Victoria in the Boys Fours, McKinnon was level-headed when asked about his prospects of representing Australia on the international stage.

“I haven’t looked that far ahead. It would be great but, you don’t think about that too much,” he said.

“You just want to do your best job playing for the state, and see what happens there.”

Speaking to Star after his side, the Werribee RSL Bees, lost to Essendon in the Royal Victorian Bowls Association Premier Division last Saturday, McKinnon said he got into lawn bowls at a very young age through his “old man”.

“My dad plays for Werribee, and I used to go down and watch him. I used to go down and set up every Saturday morning.

“I started playing pennant when I was 10, and I was getting out on the green a couple of years before that, when I was about seven.”

It was during the interview when McKinnon’s father rang to inquire about the day’s results.

Unfortunately, the news was not good, but McKinnon said his side had expected a tough match at Essendon Bowls Club.

“We got down by about 10 shots overall, and didn’t get a rink up,” he said.

“We were in with a show, but they were too good.

“They (Essendon) actually haven’t won a game yet (prior to defeating Werribee RSL), but we always knew it was going to be a tough game; they’ve got some great players and a few state players in their side.”

The national championships, where the Vics took down NSW in the final at Halekulani Bowls Club, NSW, in September, were a highlight in the Mackillop College student’s burgeoning career on the green.

When asked whether the nationals win would give him confidence at club level, he said it was vice versa.

“Premier League helped me with the nationals, I suppose. You’re playing experienced blokes every week.”

The national championships saw McKinnon team up with Premier League opponents, as together they represented Victoria.

“We were confident going in that we could do well because we had a good side,” he said. “Aaron (Wilson), who was playing in the rink against us (for Essendon), was a part of the fours team, too. We were confident we could do well, obviously you go into these things wanting to do your best and it was good to win the gold.”

McKinnon sees himself remaining at Werribee RSL for a while to come, and appreciates the high regard the Bees have for team values.

“I love playing at Werribee, it’s a great club. We don’t pay players; we play for the team, and not as individuals,” he says.

The youngster showed wisdom beyond his years when he spoke about player development, despite being the player to watch at Werribee RSL.

“We’ve got a few younger blokes. Jayden Christie is about 10, he’s in our third side and developing well. Sheldon Miles is about 16 or 17, and a couple of other blokes that started up this year, and hopefully they can progress and help the side, and help the club.”

McKinnon seems every bit the ultimate clubman and team player, and will use his talent for the betterment of the club.

He said he looked at teammate Brett Dodd for advice and direction on the green.

“Brett’s a great player to watch, probably my favourite player to watch. I’m lucky enough to be at the same club as him … I look up at Brett, he’s a great role model and a great player.”

Dodd said the teenager had not reached his career high point yet in the sport.

“It was my first year at the club last year, and I knew of him (McKinnon) when I was playing at Altona. In a couple of years, he could make the Victorian senior side. The sky’s the limit for Dane, and I can see him playing for Australia definitely.”

The Australian green and gold colours are not far away for McKinnon in lawn bowls, but for now he will settle for rolling for the Bees in his gold outfit on the greens.