North Albury is bracing for a dual ‘Mac attack’ on Saturday.
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New City teenager Adam McLennan will make his provincial debut alongside captain and father Steve.
“Make sure, with that photo, where he’s on my back, that you say I’ve been carrying him for years,” Steve laughed.
McLennan, who turns 43 next month, is one of the association’s fieriest and most emotional players.
When the long-time battlers won their first two games, McLennan had tears in his eyes.
“It means a lot to me, to the family and just overall,” he said passionately.
Make sure, with that photo, where he’s on my back, that you say I’ve been carrying him for years.
- Steve McLennan
“Being a fairly stern father, I’ve probably been a little bit more against him coming through.
“I’ve just been thinking mate, I want a little bit more out of him, which we’re starting to get out of him.”
Adam is a genuine all-rounder, averaging 31.7 with the bat in second grade, while snaring five wickets.
“He’s a quick bowler, who swings it, we’re just working really hard on his action at the moment,” coach Nick McDonald said.
“I reckon, in time, he will be pretty scary.”
The pair isn’t the club’s first father-son combination to play provincial after Andrew and Angus Kilby did so in recent years.
“It’s pretty exciting, my A grade debut with dad as captain,” Adam said.
The all-rounder, who turns 18 next month, admits he has some similar personality traits.
“I too get flared up, but it’s not as easy for me,” he said.
Steve has always been a straight shooter, on and off the field.
“Once he steps over that line Adam, he’s a little bit different,” he said.
“He plays within himself, whereas his old man steps over the white line and he’s got that white line fever.”
The duo don’t mind trading barbs either.
“You could always put in there as a joke the old man still think’s he’s a better bowler,” Steve said.
“He’s quicker than me now, but not in my day he wasn’t.”
When told, Adam laughed.
“He might think so at the moment, with old age kicking in, he’s not as good,” he joked.
“I think his mentality keeps him going.
“He just thinks he can do anything, I suppose that gets him through everything.”
New City has stunned the association, racing to a five-two record to sit third.
Elsewhere, Tallangatta is home to Lavington in a crackerjack clash, Belvoir hosts East Albury and Raiders are home to St Patrick’s.
