John William "Mick" McLaren (3 April 1936 – 18 February 2014) was an Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), who later became the manager of a highly successful printing business.Holmesby (2014).
Early life and education The son of John and Jean McLaren (née Rayner), John William McLaren was born in the City of Melbourne on 3 April 1936.Births: McLaren, The Argus, (Saturday 11 April 1936), p. 13.
He attended Caulfield Grammar School from 1943 to 1953,Webber (1981), p. 304. where he distinguished himself as both a cricketer and as a footballer,Wilkinson (1997), pp. 134–136. playing in both the school's First XI, aged 14,Grammar School Matches, The Argus, (Monday, 5 March 1951), p13. where he played alongside Bill O'Halloran,Grammar Schools Cricket, The Argus, (Monday 23 March 1953), p. 10. and its First XVIII, aged 16.Grammar Schools, The Argus, (Saturday, 5 July 1952), p. 10.
Football He was recruited by St Kilda from Caulfield Grammar School in 1954. He played well in a number of St Kilda's senior pre-season practice matches,Nott, Cyril, "Form in Football Tests Today: St Kilda, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 20 March 1954), p. 9.Gossip from V.F.L. Grounds: St. Kilda, The Argus, (Wednesday, 24 March 1954), p. 24.Gossip from V.F.L. Grounds: St. Kilda, The Argus, (Wednesday, 31 March 1954), p. 23. and went on to play the entire 1954 season in the St Kilda (under-19) Third XVIII.
Having trained well in the preseason, McLaren made his senior debut in the first match of the 1955 season, against Melbourne, at the Junction Oval, on 16 April 1955 on the half-back flank;League teams, The Age, (Friday, 15 April 1955), p. 11 St Kilda lost the match 8.11 (59) to 17.16 (118).
He played in the next match in Round Two (23 April) against Essendon;League teams, The Age, (Friday, 22 April 1955), p. 11 but was unable to play again, due to his Army National Service obligations,Ruck Changes, The Age, (Friday, 29 April 1955), p. 12. until the Round 17 (13 August 1955) match against Geelong,John O'Connell in Geelong Attack, The Age, (Friday, 12 August 1955), p. 12.League Teams: G'long v. St. Kilda, The Age, (Friday, 12 August 1955), p. 11. and in Round 18 (20 August 1955), the last match of the season, against Richmond.League Teams: St. Kilda v. R'mond, The Age, (Friday, 19 August 1955), p. 11.
He injured his ankle in the early part of the 1956 season and did not play again.
See also List of Caulfield Grammar School people
Footnotes
References AFL Statistics: Mick McLaren Herald-Sun Tributes (20 February 2014) : McLaren, John. Holmesby, Luke, "Farewell to former Saints", saints.com.au: 12 March 2014 Webber, Horace, Years May Pass On... Caulfield Grammar School, 1881–1981, Centenary Committee, Caulfield Grammar School, (East St Kilda),1981. Wilkinson, Ian R., The Fields at Play – 115 years of sport at Caulfield Grammar School 1881–1996, Playwright Publishing, (Melbourne), 1997.