Dr William C. McClelland

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Dr William Caldwell McClelland (born 9 February 1875, died 30 May 1957) was a medical doctor and an Australian rules football player and administrator. Born at Buninyong, on Victoria's goldfields, to an Irish-born father (David) and his Victorian-born wife (Mary), McClelland went to Brighton Grammar School and then Melbourne University, where he was awarded BA in 1899, MA in 1901 and MB, BS in 1905. He joined Melbourne in 1898, and was an often brilliant centre half back. He played in the club's surprise 1900 premiership triumph, and was elected as captain the following year, a position he filled for four seasons. Retiring at the end of the 1904 season with 75 games to his credit, McClelland focussed his energies on his medical career - he was medical officer to the Brighton City Council for more than four decades.

In 1912, McClelland became president of the Melbourne Football Club, a position he only relinquished when elected to the presidency of the Victorian Football League in 1926, succeeding Professor Baldwin Spencer. He served in this capacity for a remarkable two decades and from 1944 was also the president of the Melbourne Cricket Club, thus simultaneously holding the two highest profile sporting positions in Victoria for twelve years. He was granted a CBE for his services to both games in 1955. At the age of 81, he handed over the leadership of the VFL to Kenneth Luke, who was a more vocal opponent of the hold exerted by cricket clubs over the finances of VFL clubs. McClelland continued as president of the MCC until 1957, when he passed away. He did not marry.

McClelland was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. His citation read:

Cool level-headed defender for Melbourne who was club president for 14 years before becoming VFL president from 1926 to 1955.

In 1950, the VFL instituted the Dr Wm C McClelland trophy, awarded to the best performed club in all three grades (seniors, reserves and under 19s) over the course of the season. Since the beginning of the AFL era, with the abolition of the reserves and under 19s, the trophy is given to the team that finishes on top of the ladder after the home and way season (ie. the minor premier).