Received life membership in 2011.
Mal commenced junior participation with the Ainslie Junior Football Club in 1974 midway through the season in under 11’s with Ian Kirkpatrick as coach after stints in Rugby Union and Rugby League. His best mate from North Ainslie Primary School, Patrick Ford convinced Mal to come and play football with Ainslie. Ian Kirkpatrick remained his junior coach until he progressed to Under 17’s, where Terry Stuart coached.
Represented the ACT in the Shell Cup U/15’s in 1978, ACT Schoolboys in 1979 and Under 17’s ACT Teal Cup in 1980.
Mal played the first year of the double age progression of Under 17’s before progressing to the Under 19’s under Ralph Rendell in 1980 and David Lalor 1981/82. He was captain of the premiership winning 1982 side alongside winning the clubs Under 19 Best and Fairest award in same year. Mal polled 3rd in the league best and fairest in 1981 and second in 1982.
In 1983 Mal commenced playing Reserve Grade Football Under both Graham Read and Gary Cox, with a brief 33 games in the Seniors team across many seasons. One of the highlights being best on ground in the First grade second semi-final against Manuka in 1983.
Played in the Reserve Grade Premiership winning teams in 1983/84. Mal played a total of 98 Reserve Grade games.
In 1987, Mal captain/coached the Ainslie Monaro Division team to the premiership over Harman. Mal was also awarded the Warren Tansley Medal as the League Best and Fairest player in the same year.
Appointed Captain/Coach of Ainslie Reserve Grade in 1988, leading the team to two grand finals in 1988/89 only to be defeated in both. We were unbeaten in 1988 until a grand final defeat. In 1990 we were finalists again but knocked out in the elimination final by Manuka. Due to a heavy concussion in that final game, Mal retired from the game in 1991 at 28 years of age.
Mal coached Ainslie Under 18’s in 2007-2009, losing the 2008 Grand Final against Marist by 1 point.
Served on the Football Club board for a few years in the David Cloke era.
Mal’s Grandfather Neville Scholes was awarded life membership of the club in 1957. He was a medical trainer and long serving timekeeper for the club. He was so revered for his medical treatment, that players from other clubs would come to him for treatment. Father Raymond Scholes played Ainslie Juniors. Brother Mark Scholes played for Ainslie Monaro and was a member of the 1987 premiership winning team.
Mal’s son Brady played for Ainslie Junior Football Club and was a prominent performer in the Reserve Grade premiership winning team in 2013.