DOB: 9 February 1875
Died: 30 May 1957
Debut: Round 11, 1898 against Fitzroy at MCG
Last Game: Round 17, 1904 against Collingwood at MCG
From: Buninyong/Brighton Grammar/Brighton
Honours
Premiership Player - 1900
Captain - 1901 - 1904
Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee - 1996
MFC Hall of Fame - 2001
Victorian state player - 1901
Life Member
Games: 75
Goals: 3
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 29 | 1 | 45 | 38.66 |
McClelland was a cool, agile defender who first played with the Reds in the VFA in 1894. He missed 1895 with injury and made his VFL debut at centre half-back 1898. Within two seasons was playing half-back flank in a Premiership side. The next year he was made captain and represented Victoria.
While studying for his medical degree at Melbourne University he was also vice-president of the University club (who had not yet joined the VFL) and played midweek matches with them. Later in his career he also started playing as a ruckman.
In 1904 he retired to focus on his medical career, and in 1906 and 1907 played for Ballarat. Upon his return to the city McClelland was appointed Melbourne's club's delegate to the VFL in 1909 and also served as club doctor before being made chairman of the club in 1912.
He served until 1926 when the Demons won a flag and he took up a position as VFL President - a position which he held until shortly before the 1956 season when he retired due to ill-health. McClelland was president of the MCC from 1944 until his death in 1957. He served as medical officer to the Brighton City Council for 40 years and received an Order of the British Empire in 1955.
The AFL McClelland Trophy is named after him. At first this trophy was presented to the club with the best combined results of seniors, reserves and under 19's, but is now given to the side who win the minor premiership.
| Year | Games | Goals | |
| 1898 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1899 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1900 | 13 | 0 | |
| 1901 | 15 | 1 | |
| 1902 | 13 | 0 | |
| 1903 | 16 | 1 | |
| 1904 | 15 | 0 | |
Lists
Pre-VFL Players
Notes
May have played for VFL in a game against Ballarat in June 1900. Shown as 'Dave' in some 1894 sources.
Media
Argus - 07/05/1894
Argus - 01/08/1904
Table Talk - 03/06/1926
Countryman - 27/07/1928
Football Record R8 1957
Links
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
Dictionary of Australian Biography
Wikipedia profile