ROC will play Keysborough for the inaugural Ian McLean Memorial shield at Starling Road this Saturday.
The shield was struck by mutual agreement between the two clubs to recognise the service to both clubs of McLean, who passed away in September last year after a short battle with cancer.
McLean played two seasons with Keysborough in 1990 and 1991 after coming across from Dandenong South, before moving to play with ROC from 1993 to 1996 and then returning to play three seasons of super rules with Keysborough in 2004.
He was still playing for ROC at the age of 41 to make up numbers and was the club reserves umpire in 2004-2005.
In 2003 he was selected at centre half-forward in ROC’s team of the first 25 years.
McLean spent his working life as a linesman with the SEC and was said to be responsible at some stage for the standing of every light pole at the Keysborough and ROC football grounds.
He is survived by his wife Heather who also represented ROC in netball and children Sam 15, Toby 14 and Molly 10, all of whom will be in attendance at this weekend’s game.
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