McClelland Trophy
The McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football trophy, currently awarded to the minor premiers in the Australian Football League (AFL) each year. The minor premiers are the team that finished on top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season.[1]
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[edit] History
The award was instituted in 1951 and is named after William McClelland, a former Victorian Football League (now AFL) player and administrator and member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Prior to 1991 the trophy was presented to the team with the best overall home-and-away record across the three levels of VFL/AFL play: seniors, reserves and under 19s.[2] Seniors wins were worth ten points, reserves were worth four, and under 19s were worth two (with the values halved for drawn games).
In the 1950s, a trophy of the same name was also awarded to Peter Pianto for being the best Victorian player in an interstate match against South Australia.[3]
In 1991 the criteria for winning the McClelland Trophy was changed to its current status: finishing atop the AFL ladder at the end of the home-and-away season as AFL minor premiers.
Shortly after 1991 the Under 19s level of the league was replaced with a separate junior competition now known as the TAC Cup. The Under 18s and the AFL Reserves competition were later scrapped in favour of an alignment with the then Victorian Football Association, which became known as the VFL prior to the start of its 1996 season.
The award is relatively low key, with no prize money because although finishing on top of the ladder ensures a slightly advantageous draw in the AFL Finals Series,[4] the main goal of all teams is to win the AFL Premiership, by winning the grand final.[5][6]
[edit] Trophy winners
| Team | All grades (1951 - 1990) | Minor premiers (1991 - present) | Total | Most Recent Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | - | 1 | 1 | 2005 |
| Brisbane Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Brisbane Lions | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Carlton | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1995 |
| Collingwood | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2011 |
| Essendon | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2001 |
| Fitzroy | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fremantle | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Geelong | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2008 |
| Gold Coast | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Hawthorn | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1988 |
| Melbourne | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1990 |
| North Melbourne | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1998 |
| Port Adelaide | - | 3 | 3 | 2004 |
| Richmond | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1982 |
| St Kilda | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2009 |
| Sydney Swans | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1996 |
| West Coast Eagles | - | 3 | 3 | 2006 |
| Western Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Richmond won the trophy four times in a row from 1972 until 1975, the most consecutive of any team.
- Collingwood (1964-1966), Hawthorn (1984-1986, inc 1985 tied), Essendon (1999-2001) and Port Adelaide (2002-2004) each won it three times in a row.
- Thirteen of the 41 McClelland Trophy winners between 1951 and 1990 went on to win the premiership in the same year.
- Only three of the McClelland Trophy winners since 1991 have missed the grand final: Essendon (1999), Port Adelaide (2002, 2003) and Adelaide (2005).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "The McClelland Trophy". Full Points Footy. Unknown. http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/the_mcclelland_trophy.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
- ^ Lovett, Michael, ed. (2005). AFL Record: Guide to season 2005. Melbourne: AFL Publishing. p. 738. ISBN 0-9580300-6-5.
- ^ "Peter Pianto wins Trophy". The Age: p. 16. 23 July 1957. http://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=dWEQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sZUDAAAAIBAJ&dq=mcclelland-trophy&pg=2647%2C3085272. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
- ^ Stevens, Mark (18 July 2007). "Cats should be rewarded". Herald Sun. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/cats-should-be-rewarded/story-e6frf9ko-1111113979933. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
- ^ Wilson, Caroline (13 November 2009). "Saints struggle for profit despite successful season". The Age (Fairfax Media). http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/saints-struggle-for-profit-despite-successful-season/2009/11/12/1257615129972.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
- ^ Wilson, Caroline (24 August 2003). "Only one trophy good enough for Port". The Age (Fairfax Media). http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/23/1061529379249.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
