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
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 14 | 0 | 28 | 33.33 |
The son of Tom McLean played 11 senior games for Sandringham across 1978 and 1979, and after appearing in all three grades and winning a premiership in his second year he was recruited by Melbourne. McLean lived in the St Kilda residential zone but as his father had played for Melbourne and North Melbourne so had his choice of the three clubs, and had also been pursued by South Melbourne.
Originally a centre-half back, McLean was converted into a ruckman. After a delayed start to 1981 due to glandular fever he found 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.
McLean 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. 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 McLean 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 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.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | 15 | 2 | 3 |
| 1983 | 22 | 6 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Notes
May have also played for Moorabbin Technical School.
Lists
Collingwood
Family
Two clubs in the same season
Media
Inside Football - 21/06/1979, 08/05/1980, 07/05/1981
Age - 31/05/1982, 05/05/1984, 09/05/1984, 01/06/1984, 28/06/1984, 25/01/1986
29/01/1986
Links
Beaumaris FC
Collingwood Forever profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Melbourne Football Club Ltd vs McLean, Glenn Thomas & Victorian Football League
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile