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Glenn McLean

Image DOB: 10 July 1961

Debut: Round 7, 1980 against North Melbourne at Waverley
Last MFC Game: Round 4, 1984 against Essendon at Waverley

From: Beaumaris/Sandringham

Number: 26 (1980-1984)

Games: 42 (44 total)
Goals: 8
Career Statistics

WinsDrawsLossesWinning %
1402833.33

The son of Tom McLean played 11 senior games for Sandringham across 1978 and 1979, appearing in all three grades during 1979 and winning a third premiership before being recruited to the Demons. He lived in St Kilda's zone, but as his father had played for both North Melbourne and Melbourne he could have chosen to go to any of the three. He had also been pursued by South Melbourne before joining the Dees.

Originally a centre-half back, McLean was converted into a ruckman, and after a delayed start to 1981 due to glandular fever, found himself a regular spot in the lineup during 1982 when his fellow ruckmen Garry Baker was injured and Michael Byrne was sold to Hawthorn. Early in the season he had his own injury issues, breaking his wrist.

He played every game in 1983, held down the first ruck position despite the presence of star signing Peter Moore and finished fifth in the best and fairest, but after a delayed start to 1984 he was approached by Collingwood after Round 4, who discovered he was playing without a contract and offered him a three year deal. Melbourne believed he had agreed the same length contract with them and issued a Supreme Court writ against Collingwood to block the move.

Supreme Court documents revealed that Melbourne had offered him a three year deal worth $32,000, $34,000 and $36,000 until the end of 1986 as well as $5000 in incentive payments. He played in Collingwood's Reserves while waiting for the legal action to clear up the situation (the Pies lost the points for the Reserves win) and countered with his own writ asking the court to clear him to Victoria Park.

Melbourne had demanded a fee of $180,000 to clear McLean, and one story says when the Collingwood board would only stump up $120,000 Pies president Ranald Macdonald paid the difference out of his own pocket. Alternatively it's reported that Melbourne received transfer fee between $40,000 and $130,000. Melbourne also got Tony Keenan as part of the exchange.

After the matter was settled McLean played in two consecutive games late in the year, was dropped and never played VFL football again. He remained on Collingwood's list through 1985, but with the club in financial difficulty and players voting to take a pay cut he was one of five sacked from the club in January 1986.

McLean spoke to Melbourne about a return but realised his heart wasn't in a league career and retired.

YearGamesGoalsBrownlow
1980 100
1981 200
1982 1523
1983 2260
1984 200

Lists
Collingwood
Family
Two clubs in the same season

Media
Inside Football - 21/06/1979
Inside Football - 08/05/1980
Inside Football - 07/05/1981
Age - 31/05/1982
Age - 05/05/1984
Age - 09/05/1984
Melbourne Football Club Ltd vs McLean, Glenn Thomas & Victorian Football League - 30/05/1984
Age - 01/06/1984
Age - 28/06/1984
Age - 25/01/1986
Age - 29/01/1986

Links
Collingwood Forever profile
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile

Created by Supermercado. Last Modification: Sunday 05 February 2023 14:59:51 AEDT by Supermercado. (Version 33)

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