He joined the Melbourne Football Club in 1894, but due to injury and medical studies, could not hold a place in the lineup until 1898, and became known as 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 a total of 91 games to his credit, McClelland focused his energies on his medical career and he was medical officer to the Brighton City Council for more than four decades.
Administrator
In 1912, McClelland became president of the Melbourne Football Club, and resigned the position after being elected to the presidency of the Victorian Football League in 1926, succeeding Baldwin Spencer. He served in this capacity for 30 years, and from 1944 was also the president of the Melbourne Cricket Club, thus simultaneously holding the two highest profile sporting positions in Victoria for 12 years. He was granted a CBE for his services to both sports in 1955. In 1956, at the age of 81, he handed over the leadership of the VFL to Carlton President 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 he died in 1957. He did not marry. McClelland was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as an administrator in 1996. His citation read:
Trophy
In 1950, the VFL instituted the McClelland Trophy, which was awarded to the club with the best overall home-and-away record across the three grades at the end of the home-and-away season. With the transition to a national competition, the league was renamed the Australian Football League in 1990. The AFL subsequently changed the criteria for the McClelland Trophy; since 1991, it has been to be awarded to the team finishing on top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season. At the end of 1991, the Under 19s competition was shut down and replaced by the TAC Cup, with the Reserves competition being shut down at the end of 1999 in favour of alignments with, or second teams in, the Victorian Football League and other state leagues.
