Brian_Leahy

Brian Leahy

Brian Leahy

Australian rules footballer


Brian Peter 'Wrecker' Leahy (3 February 1943 – 24 January 2004) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the early 1960s. His brothers John and Terry also played for Melbourne.

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Australian rules football career

A strongly built half back, Leahy was noted for his bursts off the flanks. At age 15 he won the North Albury Football Club's best and fairest[1] and was just 16 when signed up by Melbourne, spending 1959 in the reserves.

On 18 April 1960 during the Round 1 clash with North Melbourne, Leahy became the 786th player to wear the Melbourne guernsey. He went on to play a further 11 matches with Melbourne during the 1960 season, including the Grand Final against Collingwood.[2] At 17 years and 233 days Brian became the second youngest premiership player in VFL history, just 11 days older than the record holder Murray Weideman.

During the 1961 season, Leahy played a total of 17 matches – two with his older brother, John (Rounds 12 and 13) – and received two votes for the Brownlow Medal. He played another 17 matches in 1962, including the Semi-Final loss to Carlton and received another Brownlow Medal vote.[3]

Leahy played a total of 18 games during the 1963 season and kicked his first VFL goal during the Round 7 loss to South Melbourne. In 1964 he kicked his second goal against South Melbourne (Round 11)[4] before a thigh injury cost him another premiership.

A torn Achilles tendon the following season ultimately ended Leahy's VFL career – he played only one game in 1965 – the Round 16 loss to Geelong.[5]

Leahy finished his career in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) where he played briefly with both Yarraville and Northcote. He then coached South Melbourne's Under-19s football team.

Later life

Brian Leahy died in Wodonga on 24 January 2004[6] and is buried at the Glenmorous Gardens Lawn Cemetery, Albury.

See also


References

  • Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.

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