THE great-grandson of a West Perth and WA football champion is making big strides to follow the lead of his ancestor.
Sorrento resident Oscar Dees (12) never knew his great-grandfather Jack ‘Fat’ McDiarmid, but understands the impact the 26-time State representative had on WA football.
The imposing ruckman, a WA Football Hall of Fame inductee, played 177 games for West Perth between 1923 and 1934 including the 1932 premiership.
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READ NOWHe captained the side in 1928.
His 26 appearances for WA is bettered only by Graham Farmer (31) and Norm Rogers (27).
McDiarmid’s brother Norm McDiarmid featured 210 times for West Perth.
Oscar heard his great-grandad was a “massive guy”, which he guessed was the reason he was nicknamed Fat.
“He could move and play in any position,” he said.
“He never used to go to the State trials because he was an automatic selection.”
Given Oscar lives in Sorrento, he is headed for the Subiaco system rather than the West Perth one.
But he’s following in McDiarmid’s steps in wearing WA’s black and gold.
The youngster made his first appearance for WA this year when he was named in the Boys 12s for the national carnival in Darwin.
The midfielder was named vice- captain of the team, which collected bronze.
“I’ve loved playing at both club and state level this year. I really enjoy training, so I trained six days a week so I could be ready for Darwin,” he said.
Football became a key focus in the Sorrento-Duncraig JFC’s member’s life after he took up a place with the Rising Stars Football Academy 18 months ago.
The keen surfer would hit the water as part of his off-season training schedule.
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