McClelland Trophy

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The Dr Wm. C. McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football trophy. It is awarded to the team finishing in first place at the end of the AFL home and away season. This is referred to as the "minor premiership".

[edit] History

The award was first presented in 1951, and is named after Dr William C. McClelland, a player and administrator who is now a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame. The award was presented to the team with the best overall home-and-away record across the three levels of VFL play: seniors, reserves and under 19s. Senior wins were worth ten points, reserves were worth four, and under 19s were worth two (with the values halved for drawn games).

In 1991, shortly before the under 19 level of the league was removed, the criteria for winning the McClelland Trophy was changed to its current situation: finishing atop the AFL ladder after the home-and-away season.

The award is relatively low key, because although finishing on top of the ladder ensures an advantageous draw in the AFL Finals Series the focus of attention is the Premiership (winning the Grand Final).

[edit] Results and Trivia

Essendon have won the McClelland nine times, the most of any team.
Geelong and Richmond have won it seven times each, the second most.
Of the current clubs, only Fremantle, Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs have not won the McClelland Trophy.
Neither Fitzroy nor the Brisbane Bears had won the trophy before they merged after 1996.
The 1985 McClelland Trophy was tied between Carlton and Hawthorn, the only tie.
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 forty-one McClelland Trophy winners under the initial definition have gone on to win the premiership in the same year.
Since the definition changed in 1991, six McClelland trophy winners have also won the premiership, and twelve have reached the Grand Final.
Only four of the McClelland Trophy winners since 1991 have missed the Grand Final: Essendon (1999), Port Adelaide (2002, 2003) and Adelaide (2005).