Vale Mark Edward McCasker
8/9/1987-4/2/2007
His dream was to play footy at the highest level he could," Werribee Senior Coach Simon Atkins said in recalling the life of Mark McCasker, who lost his battle with cancer last week at the age of nineteen. "He was such a likeable lad, quiet and unassuming. I admired his courage."
Mark McCasker was born on Phillip Island and moved to the Northern Territory with his family at an early age.
His mother Joanne remembers his childhood dream was to play AFL and he was a mad Demons fan. He also wanted to work in the building industry with his father Ray. Sadly those dreams never came true but Mark McCasker certainly made his mark on those who came into his short life.
Among the tributes to the aspiring ruckman:
Magnificent
Adorable
Remarkable
Kind
Our hearts are broken
How lucky we were to have you stay with us, you became our second son.
We are better people for having had you in our lives
Your fighting spirit will live on in me for the rest of my life
Simon Atkins remembers recruiting the young Northern Territorian.
Steve Kretiuk and I went to Darwin to check out a few players and on the Sunday we saw this six foot two young fella playing in the ruck and at centre half back and centre half forward. I said to Steve we had better talk to this bloke. We did and he had a glint in his eye and said he wanted to give it a go.
He made a big commitment coming down from the north and he certainly gave it his best. Just days before he died he came to training at the Whitten Oval and seemed in good spirits."
The Werribee Football Club sends its condolences to the wider McCasker family and especially to his parents Joanne and Ray and his brothers and sisters Daniel, Ben, Rebecca and Jessica.
Last Modified on 22/02/2008 10:57