Senior Premiership: 1968

Seniors Leading Goalkicker: 1968 (70)

VFL/AFL Clubs: Hawthorn

Even now we wonder how that little kid grew up to be this country’s AFL player of the century. This young boy came to the Chelsea club as a thirteen year old, and by the time that he was sixteen had played a major role in enabling Chelsea to secure the 1968 First XV111 premiership—unbelievable stuff.
As a sixteen year old he kicked a staggering 70 goals for the firsts from the half-forward flank. He was an absolute phenomena—strong, smart, skilled and, dare I say, ‘LETHAL’. The young man was obviously targeted by opposing teams  despite his inexperience and youth. And guess what? He just thrived on it and was soon mixing it with men in the same tough uncompromising way that would become his trademark. There were no regrets for what he dished out and no squealing for what he copped.
‘Lethal’ Leigh, as we all know, went from Chelsea directly to Hawthorn and stardom in the V. F. L.
His record reflects his amazing achievements, but say little about his brief time at Chelsea.
In a four year period with Chelsea, Leigh played in three premiership teams, won a competition Best & Fairest in the fourths and won the competition goal kicking award in the firsts. It was the start of an amazing journey.
 

 
IN BRIEF
PLAYING
RECRUITED BY HAWTHORN—1969
PLAYED 1969-1985
332 GAMES, 915 GOALS
PREMIERSHIPS—1971, 1976, 1978, 1983
HAWTHORN CAPTAIN—1981-1985
HAWTHORN BEST & FAIREST
1971, 1972, 1974, 1976-78, 1980, 1982.
HAWTHORN LEADING GOALKICKER
1973, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983.
VFL LEADING GOALKICKER—1975.
VICTORIAN CAPTAIN—1980
VICTORIAN REPRESENTATIVE –14 TIMES
ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM—1972
HAWTHORN TEAM OF THE CENTURY
(ROVER)
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
LEGEND (1996, INAUGURAL)
PLAYER OF THE CENTURY
AFL TEAM OF THE CENTURY
(FORWARD POCKET)
VFLPA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD
AWARD RENAMED IN MATTHEWS
HONOUR—2002
 
COACHING
COLLINGWOOD—1986-1995
205 GAMES—1990 PREMIERSHIP
BRISBANE LIONS—1999-2008
237 GAMES—2001,02,03 PREMIERSHIPS