Mitchell McCormack: Teen to lead Kootingal against Gunnedah FC on Saturday

When that dream was cruelly ripped from him after he failed an army medical, the 19-year-old had to recalibrate the vision of his future.

McCormack had seen in the army a way to funnel his leadership qualities: he was a sports captain at Oxley High, and captained junior soccer sides.

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"I wanted to be in the army and be a leader in the army, basically, in the armoured vehicle corps," he said, adding that he had planned to join the non-commissioned ranks.

He passed the interviews and aptitude test "with flying colours", the army told him.

"But then I had the medical exam ... and an issue that I've had since I was 13 years old with my knees, which I hadn't had an issue with in a few years, it came back.

"And they thought that my knees wouldn't be able to hold up."

McCormack has the disease Osgood-Schlatter, a common cause of knee pain in adolescents. The tendons grow faster than the bones in the knee, he explained.

"It was a pretty big blow," he said of missing out on the army. "That's all I wanted to do going through school."

"For the most part," he said of his ability to put the setback behind him, but added: "It's always in the back of my mind: that I could've been doing what I loved."

Now an apprentice electrician, McCormack has found an exciting outlet for his leadership qualities.

As Kootingal's new captain, he will lead the side for the second time when they travel to Gunnedah on Saturday. He has replaced Luke Taylor - out for the season with a bung shoulder.

"I feel pretty honoured that I was offered the captaincy. I like a challenge, I'm happy that I've got it ... I like responsibility."

The central defender continued: "Being so young and having the older heads [in the side] with me, they can give me feedback on how I'm going as well."

McCormack said his parents, Andrew and Lisa, had instilled in him his leadership passion.

"They're definitely similar like that. They influenced me a lot in the way I wanted to be and how I wanted to portray myself and be that leader."

McCormack's 17-year-old brother, Daniel, is a Moore Creek striker.

The siblings clashed when the two sides drew 2-2 in round one.

"He's very much a handful - he's a very skilled player," McCormack said of his brother.

He added: "He's also there to help challenge me, and I'm there to help challenge him - to make us both good players."

The Leader: Is he a better player than you?

McCormack: "When I was his age, he's definitely better than I was. But I think I've still got it over him."

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