Michael McLean (footballer)

Michael "Magic" McLean (born 3 March 1965 in Darwin, Northern Territory) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with both Footscray and Brisbane in the VFL/AFL.

Early life

McLean was born in the northern territory and grew up in Northern Territory and played both rugby league and Australian football at junior levels.^[1] His father, from Queensland pushed for Michael at age 15 to pursue a career in rugby league career, however he decided to continue playing Australian football.

McLean played his first senior league with the Nightcliff rugby league club but also played Australian football for the Nightcliff Football Club in the Northern Territory Football League where he was eventually scouted by the Footscray Football Club to play professionally.

Footscray career

McLean moved to Victoria and debuted for Footscray in 1983. He became known as a skilful winger who went on to play 95 games and boot 23 goals with the Bulldogs before he suffered an ankle and calf injuries that hampered his career. In response to his injuries, McLean focused on building his lean body to become one of the strongest physiques in the competition.

Brisbane career

The Bulldogs gave McLean the boot, before he was picked up in the 1991 AFL Pre-season Draft, as the no. 1 pick by the Brisbane Bears. He resurrected his career, winning the 1991 and 1993 best and fairest award at the Bears. He went on to play 87 games and boot 17 goals with the Bears, before playing the first game in 1997 with the newly merged Brisbane Lions before constant calf injury struck him down, forcing his retirement.

Coaching career

McLean eventually returned to Darwin to coach his former club the Nightcliff Tigers. He did so for five years with limited success before resigning at the end of 2004 to coach the Redland Bombers in the Queensland State League. At the end of the 2005, as Redland seemed destined for the wooden spoon, he resigned and returned to Darwin to again coach Nightcliff. In the 2005/06 season, McLean gave the Tigers an impressive season and reached the Preliminary Final before bowing out to eventual premiers the Darwin Buffaloes. In the 2006/07 season, McLean became coach for the Southern Districts Football Club where he led the club to their first ever NTFL premiership.

McLean is now the head coach of the Northern Territory Thunder. Who now are playing in their inaugural season of the QAFL.

Aboriginal activist

During his career he was a strong anti-racism advocate, and this continued post his career. He was a vital part of the Aboriginal All-Stars match up in Darwin, and was also named in the Indigenous Team of the Century.

In 2007, McLean was working at Palmerston YMCA in Darwin as a community worker.^[2]

References

• Michael McLean's statistics from AFL Tables