Career
McNamara played with Street Kilda as a Centre Half-Forward. Lured to the Essendon Association side in 1909 (kicking 107 goals in the 1912 season) he resumed with Street Kilda in 1914. Possibly the longest kick of a football in history, one kick in 1923 was measured at just over 85 m.
Later played amateur football for Ormond Amateur Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).
Served as a Street Kilda committeeman, vice-president and later president Following his retirement from football, McNamara established himself in a new career as a racehorse trainer, which he continued until about 1958.
His period in the racing industry included serving as president with the Victorian Trainers" Association. McNamara was inducted into the Street Kilda Hall of Fame in 2003.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.