Brian Leahy
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.
| Brian Leahy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Brian Peter Leahy | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 1943 | ||
| Date of death | 24 January 2004 (aged 60) | ||
| Place of death | Wodonga, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | North Albury | ||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Half back | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1960–1965 | Melbourne | 79 (2) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1965. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
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.
References
- Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.