Bob McLean (footballer)

Infobox afl player NEW
playername = Bob McLean
fullname = Allan Robert Charles McLean
image capt =


birthdate = February 1, 1914
birthplace = Mile End, South Australia
dead = dead
deathdate = November 9, 1989
deathplace = Adelaide
originalteam =
heightweight = 194 cm / 99 kg
position = Ruckman
years = 1930s
1939-48
1941
clubs = Norwood
Port Adelaide (SANFL)
St Kilda
games(goals) = 74 (57)
147 (414)
3 (3)
statsend = 1948
careerhighlights =

A. R. C. 'Bob' McLean (February 1, 1914 - November 9, 1989) was an Australian rules footballer 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.

Football career

As a player, McLean was mainly a ruckman 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's seniors in the 1941 season.

Cricket career

McLean, a right handed batsman and a legbreak bowler, appeared in 20 first-class cricket 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. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/19/19146.html|title=South Australia v Queensland 1949/50| publisher=CricketArchive] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/19/19152.html|title=Victoria v South Australia 1949/50| publisher=CricketArchive] His first name Allan is given on cricket scorecards instead of Bob.

Football administation

He was appointed 'Club Secretary' of Port Adelaide in 1949 and remained in the job until 1980. From 1983 to 1989 he acted as '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 Fame. Five years earlier he had been one of the inaugural inductees in the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Port Adelaide's 'Best and fairest' award is named after him.

He had a son Ian who also played first-class cricket for South Australia.

References

*AflRleague|ref=B/Bob_McLean.html
* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6774.html Cricinfo: Bob McLean]
*Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). "The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers". 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.