Leigh Matthews
Leigh Raymond Matthews (born 1 March 1952) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and coached Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions in the VFL and renamed Australian Football League (AFL).
| Leigh Matthews | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Statue of Matthews outside the MCG | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Leigh Raymond Matthews | ||
| Nickname(s) | Lethal, Barney Rubble | ||
| Date of birth | 1 March 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Frankston, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Chelsea (MPNFL) | ||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder/Forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1969–1985 | Hawthorn | 332 (915) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1971–1982 | Victoria | 14 (29) | |
| Coaching career3 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1986–1995 | Collingwood | 224 (125–94–5) | |
| 1999–2008 | Brisbane Lions | 237 (142–92–3) | |
| Club total |
| 461 (267–186–8) | |
1997–1998 |
Representative Victoria |
2 (2–0–0) | |
| 1998 | Australia | 2 (1–1–0) | |
| Representative total |
| 4 (3–1–0) | |
| Total | 465 (270–187–8) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1985. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 2008. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
|
Playing
Coaching
Hall of Fame
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Squat, short-legged and barrel-chested, Matthews earned the iconic nickname "Lethal Leigh" due to his physical as well as skillful style of play. He is officially recognised as the "best player of the 20th century" according to the AFL, is a 'Legend' in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, named in the Hawthorn and AFL teams of the century, and is one of the most successful AFL coaches of all time. Matthews is now an AFL commentator on television with the Seven Network and on radio with 3AW.