Col McLean

Hailing from Hamilton in the Western District, Col McLean was a talented half-back flanker who almost slipped through Melbourne's fingers, having originally attracted interest from Hawthorn and trained with Collingwood. He eventually signed with the Demons and wasted little time establishing himself as a pillar of their defence, playing a vital role in the club's back-to-back premierships in 1940 and 1941. A disciplined and reliable defender, McLean was rarely seen forward of centre, a fact highlighted by his career tally of just a single goal, which he finally snagged against North Melbourne in 1945.

McLean's career faced a significant interruption during the Second World War, though his path was unique; initially forced into a brief retirement due to a diagnosed heart murmur that saw him rejected by both the Army and Air Force, he was eventually accepted by the Navy. He returned to the VFL in 1944 and proved he had lost none of his defensive prowess, helping the Demons secure another flag in the dramatic 1948 Grand Final replay against Essendon. He retired from VFL football at the end of 1949 after being transferred to Sydney by the Navy, leaving the game as a triple premiership player and a Melbourne defensive stalwart.