Educated at Geelong College, McLean played both cricket and football for the school and was described as the best player in both teams.
He began playing for Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) while he was still in school and in 1882 he was the competition's leading goalkicker.
McLean also played with fellow VFA side Melbourne in 1890.
[2][3] He played two first-class cricket matches as a batsman for Victoria in 1891.
[4][5] He died as the result of a railway accident in Melbourne, when he missed his footing getting off a train.