Kevin Dann facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Full name | Kevin George Dann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 April 1958 Balmain, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Died | 21 February 2021 (aged 62) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing information
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| Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kevin George Dann (April 5, 1958 – February 21, 2021) was an Australian professional rugby league player. He played as a fullback, which is a key defensive and attacking position in the game. Kevin spent his entire club career playing for the Penrith Panthers in Australia during the 1970s and 1980s.
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Kevin Dann's Rugby League Journey
Kevin Dann started his rugby league journey as a junior player in Blacktown. He made his first big appearance in the top-level competition in 1977. This was in a game where his team, the Penrith Panthers, won against Newtown.
Early Career and Rise
In his very first season with the Penrith Panthers, Kevin played 19 games. He quickly showed his skill by becoming the team's top try scorer with 9 tries. Even with his great efforts, the Panthers finished 10th that year.
Kevin continued to play for the Panthers for several years. He became known for his special ability to score tries and help set up others. He was also good at kicking the ball in attack and had strong defense. In 1978 and 1979, he played in all 22 games each season. In 1979, he was the team's top points scorer with 61 points. This included 6 tries, 21 goals, and 1 field goal.
State Honors and Key Seasons
In 1980, even though his team had a tough season, Kevin was one of their best players. His consistent performance earned him a special selection. He was chosen to play fullback for the New South Wales rugby league team in an important interstate game. This was his only appearance in a representative game.
Kevin had his best season in 1981. He was the Panthers' top try scorer again with 9 tries. He also became their top points scorer with 89 points, from 9 tries and 31 goals. Despite his strong play, the team finished 11th. In 1982, he was the team's top points scorer for the third time, getting 66 points.
Later Career and Legacy
In 1983, Kevin faced some challenges with injuries and a dip in form. He played only six games that season. He decided to retire from the sport at the end of the year. However, he made a comeback in 1984 under coach Tim Sheens. He played one more top-level match before retiring for good.
In total, Kevin Dann played 121 games for the Penrith Panthers. He scored 40 tries, kicked 100 goals, and made 1 field goal. When he retired in 1984, he was the third-highest points scorer in the club's history. Today, he ranks 11th among the club's all-time top points scorers.
After Football
In 2006, Kevin Dann was recognized for his contributions to the Penrith Panthers. He was nominated as one of the fullbacks for the club's "Team of Legends." This team was chosen to celebrate the Panthers' 40th anniversary.
Kevin Dann passed away on February 21, 2021, just before his 63rd birthday.
