[7][8][9] Apparently in an atmosphere of player unrest, McNamara — one of the four or five players who had been informed, in writing, that their services were no longer required at St Kilda — was cleared from St Kilda on 30 June 1909,[10][11][12][13] and he transferred to the Essendon Association Football Club half-way through the 1909 season, and played his first VFA match for Essendon, at centre half-forward, against Preston, on 3 July 1909.

[20][21] When McNamara requested that his case be re-opened and that additional evidence supporting his claims of a significant reduction in the business of his hotel if he were not to be playing for St Kilda be considered, his request was refused; and, when he appeared, in person, accompanied by his solicitor, at the location of the VFA committee's meeting on 23 April 1913, he was refused entry, and was (again without any reasons being given) told that his request for the VFA to re-examine the permit committee's decision had been refused.

[27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Having stood out of VFA football for the entire 1913 season, the VFL granted McNamara a permit to return to playing with St Kilda on 1 April 1914;[35][36] it was a very welcome return, given that Ernie Sellars, the club's leading goal-kicker for the three preceding seasons (1911, 1912, and 1913), had transferred to West Australia to play with the East Perth Football Club.

In the match against Geelong, at the Junction Oval, on 9 September 1922, he scored 10 goals, 2 behinds (one of his kicks hit the post) from 12 attempts.

[39][40][41] On 19 May 1923, in his last VFL season, McNamara was best on the ground when St Kilda defeated Collingwood 10.9 (69) to 6.12 (48) at the Junction Oval.

[47][48] On one occasion, however, his efforts were formally measured under the strictest competition conditions; and, on Thursday, 9 October 1913, he set what was, at the time, the "official" world place-kick record, at the Royal Launceston Show, kicking a distance of 86 yards 1 foot (79 metres).

His period in the racing industry included serving as president with the Victorian Trainers' Association.