Bob McLean (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Allan Robert Charles 'Bob' McLean (1 February 1914 – 9 November 1989) was an Australian rules football
er who played for Port Adelaide
and Norwood
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). Affectionately referred to as 'Big Bob' McLean, he later became a long serving football administrator in South Australia. He was also a good cricketer, representing South Australia in the Sheffield Shield and topped the Australian bowling and batting averages in 1947.
but was also handy around goals, kicking 471 of them during his 221 game SANFL career. He started out at Norwood before crossing to Port Adelaide and participating in their 1939 premiership win. On four occasions he topped Port Adelaide's goal-kicking — 1940, 1941, 1947 and 1948. His tally of 80 goals in 1947 was enough to win him the league's Leading goal-kicker
award. He also represented South Australia in nine interstate matches over the course of his career.
While on military service in Melbourne he made three appearances for St Kilda in the 1941 VFL season.
matches for his state. He made 897 first-class runs at an average of 28.93 and took 65 wickets at 38.36.
Both of his two first-class hundreds were scored in a one week period in the Sheffield Shield, towards the end of December 1949. The first was an innings of 213 which he made opening the batting against Queensland
at the Adelaide Oval
, dwarfing his team's next highest score of 45. Just two days after that match ended, South Australia met Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
and McLean, opening the batting once more, scored 135 and again outshone his teammates with the next best effort being 31. Victoria's bowling lineup consisted of Test cricket Doug Ring
as well as future Test players Jack Hill and Jack Iverson
.
His first name Allan is given on cricket scorecards instead of Bob.
. Five years earlier he had been one of the inaugural inductees in the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
The A R McLean Medal is awarded to the Best and Fairest winner for The Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club (SANFL) each year.
His son Ian also played first-class cricket for South Australia as a batsman, playing 25 matches and scoring two centuries - against Western Australia (103 not out) and Tasmania (111).
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
and Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL). Affectionately referred to as 'Big Bob' McLean, he later became a long serving football administrator in South Australia. He was also a good cricketer, representing South Australia in the Sheffield Shield and topped the Australian bowling and batting averages in 1947.
Football career
As a player, McLean was mainly a ruckmanRuckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
but was also handy around goals, kicking 471 of them during his 221 game SANFL career. He started out at Norwood before crossing to Port Adelaide and participating in their 1939 premiership win. On four occasions he topped Port Adelaide's goal-kicking — 1940, 1941, 1947 and 1948. His tally of 80 goals in 1947 was enough to win him the league's Leading goal-kicker
Ken Farmer Medal
The Ken Farmer Medal is named in honour of the Australian rules footballer , North Adelaide Football Club full forward Ken Farmer. The medal is awarded to the SANFL's top goalkicker at the end of the minor round of matches each season and was instigated in 1981.- Ken Farmer Medallists :- Leading...
award. He also represented South Australia in nine interstate matches over the course of his career.
While on military service in Melbourne he made three appearances for St Kilda in the 1941 VFL season.
Cricket career
McLean, a right-handed batsman and a legbreak bowler, appeared in 20 first-class cricketFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches for his state. He made 897 first-class runs at an average of 28.93 and took 65 wickets at 38.36.
Both of his two first-class hundreds were scored in a one week period in the Sheffield Shield, towards the end of December 1949. The first was an innings of 213 which he made opening the batting against Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
, dwarfing his team's next highest score of 45. Just two days after that match ended, South Australia met Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
and McLean, opening the batting once more, scored 135 and again outshone his teammates with the next best effort being 31. Victoria's bowling lineup consisted of Test cricket Doug Ring
Doug Ring
Douglas Thomas Ring was an Australian cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia in 13 Tests from 1948 to 1953...
as well as future Test players Jack Hill and Jack Iverson
Jack Iverson
John Brian Iverson was an Australian cricketer who played in 5 Tests from 1950 to 1951. He was known for his unique "bent finger" grip, with which he briefly perplexed batsmen across Australia as well as the touring English cricket team...
.
His first name Allan is given on cricket scorecards instead of Bob.
Football administration
He was appointed 'Club Secretary' of Port Adelaide in 1949 and remained in the job until 1980. From 1983 to 1989 he was 'Club Chairman'. McLean was also a SANFL League Director for 29 years and state selector for 17 years.Legacy
In 2007 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of FameAustralian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
. Five years earlier he had been one of the inaugural inductees in the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
South Australian Football Hall of Fame
The South Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who had made a significant contribution in the South Australian National Football League...
.
The A R McLean Medal is awarded to the Best and Fairest winner for The Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club (SANFL) each year.
His son Ian also played first-class cricket for South Australia as a batsman, playing 25 matches and scoring two centuries - against Western Australia (103 not out) and Tasmania (111).