Received life membership in 2011.
Malcom or “Mal”, commenced his association with Ainslie through junior participation midway through the 1974 season in the u11s after stints in Rugby Union and League. Fellow Ainslie Life Member, Ian Kirkpatrick was Mal’s first coach after his best mate from North Ainslie Primary School, Patrick Ford convinced him to come and play football with Ainslie. Ian Kirkpatrick remained his junior coach until he progressed to Under 17’s, where Terry Stuart coached.
Mal picked up Aussie Rules pretty easily after his transition from Rugby and was a noted talent in the junior ranks – representing the ACT in the Shell Cup U/15’s in 1978, ACT Schoolboys in 1979 and u17s ACT Teal Cup in 1980.
Mal played the first year of the double age progression of u17s before progressing to the u19s under Ralph Rendell in 1980 and David Lalor 1981/82. He was captain of the premiership winning 1982 side alongside winning the u19s Best and Fairest award in same year. Furthermore, Mal also polled third in the league Best and Fairest in 1981 and second in 1982.
In 1983 Mal’s talent transferred to the senior ranks, playing Reserve Grade Football Under both Graham Read and Gary Cox over many seasons, highlighted as a Premiership player in 1983 and 84 and with a Best on Ground performance in the First Grade semi-final against Manuka in 1983. Mal played a total of 98 Reserve Grade games, before in 1987 he switched paths to Captain/Coach the Ainslie Monaro Division team. Mal’s depth of experience from playing in the reserves would be of great benefit for those around him, where Ainslie Monaro would go on to win the Premiership that year over Harman in the final. Mal would also finish the season awarded with the Warren Tansley Medal as the League Best and Fairest.
After a successful season in 1987, Mal was appointed Captain/Coach of Ainslie Reserve Grade in 1988, leading the team to two Grand Finals in 1988 and 89 only to be defeated in both after remaining unbeaten in the 1988 regular season. In 1990 Mal would again lead Ainslie Reserves to the finals again but knocked out in the elimination final by Manuka. Due to a heavy concussion in that final game, Mal finished playing in 1991 at 28 years of age.
Mal continued his passion for Ainslie, serving on the Football Club board for a few years during the David Cloke era and then coaching the Ainslie u18s in 2007-2009, where he was able to inspire a young team to the 2008 Grand Final, only to be defeated in heart-breaking loss against Marist by 1 point.
Mal’s family connection with Ainslie runs deep beyond his own contributions to the club. Grandfather, Neville Scholes who was awarded Life Membership of the club in 1957 a widely revered for his medical trainer, so much so that players from other clubs would come to him for treatment. Mal’s Father, Raymond Scholes also played as an Ainslie Juniors, along with Brother, Mark Scholes who played alongside Mal for Ainslie Monaro and was a member of the 1987 premiership winning team. Mal’s son, Brady played Ainslie Juniors and was a prominent performer in the Reserve Grade Premiership Team in 2013.
Life Membership for Mal is the recognition of a clubman with deep family connections to the club, who himself contributed great success for Ainslie sides throughout the 80s and 90s and continued his commitment to Ainslie for years beyond.