McClelland Trophy

The McClelland Trophy is an Australian rules football trophy, which has been awarded each year since 1991 by the Australian Football League (AFL) to the team finishing first on the ladder after the completion of the home-and-away season, before the finals are played. Between 1950 and 1990 it was awarded to the club that performed the best across the three levels of competition; seniors, reserves and under 19s.

The award was instituted in 1951 and is named after William McClelland, who at that time was president of the Victorian Football League player.

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. 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.

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. Shortly after 1991 the Under 19s level of the league was replaced with a separate junior competition now known as the TAC Cup. The AFL Reserves competition was 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, the main goal of all teams is to win the AFL Premiership, by winning the grand final.

Unofficially and colloquially, winners of the McClelland trophy are also given the title "minor premiers".

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