[8][9] Due to his standout season, in which 20 year old McMaster won Fairest and Best in the Ararat region,[10] he gained the attention of VFL team, Geelong Football Club, who offered him a position at the club for the next year which he accepted.
That evening the team arrived back in Geelong at City Hall and were honoured in front of 10,000 to 12,000 fans.
They met Collingwood in the Grand Final and McMaster was playing well before an injury in the third quarter.
[19] This effectively ended McMaster's VFL career because, although he attempted to resume in 1954, his injury proved too incapacitating and after just 61 games in four seasons, he retired.
He returned home to Lake Bolac where he captained and coached his local side to two consecutive Premierships in 1955 and 1956.
[21] Shortly after, Mortlake Football Club poached him with the position of player-coach which he held from 1957 to 1963.
[23] McMaster returned to Geelong Football Club as non-playing coach in 1971–2 with 12 wins and 32 losses.
[24][25] He was appointed Recruiting Officer in 1973 which was the first such paid position held at any VFL club.