a utility player, mclean was a reserve in melbourne's 1964 vfl grand final win over collingwood which gave him the perfect end to his debut year. in 1966 he reunited with his former coach ron barassi at carlton and was a member of their 1968 premiership side. it would be his final league season and he thus earned the distinction of being a premiership player in his first and last season, in both cases as a reserve.