Brian Leahy
Encyclopedia
Brian Peter 'Wrecker' Leahy (3 February 1943 – 24 January 2004) was an Australian rules football
er who played for Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the early 1960s. His brothers John
and Terry
also played for Melbourne.
's best and fairest 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
. 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.
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) 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
.
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.
on 24 January 2004 and is buried at the Glenmorous Gardens Lawn Cemetery, Albury
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the early 1960s. His brothers John
John Leahy (footballer)
John Patrick Leahy was an Australian rules footballer who played two games for Melbourne during the 1961 season of the Victorian Football League .- Early life :...
and Terry
Terry Leahy (footballer)
Terry Leahy is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne and South Melbourne in the VFL. His brothers John and Brian also played with Melbourne.-Australian rules football career:...
also played for Melbourne.
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 ClubNorth Albury Football Club
The North Albury Football Club, nicknamed The Hoppers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League . They are incorporated as part of the North Albury Sports Club licensed club at Bunton Park in North Albury, where they play their home matches. The club has...
's best and fairest 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
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
, 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
1960 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1960.-Premiership season:In 1960, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
, including the Grand Final
1960 VFL Grand Final
The 1960 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Melbourne Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September of 1960 in extremely wet conditions due to persistent rain during the previous week...
against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. 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
Murray Weideman
Murray Weideman is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .-Playing career:Weideman is probably best remembered today as Collingwood's 'enforcer' of the late 1950s and early 1960s, loved by the club's supporters, and loathed by those of the opposition.He made his VFL...
.
During the 1961 season
1961 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1961.-Premiership season:In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
, 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
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
. He played another 17 matches in 1962
1962 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1962.-Premiership season:In 1962, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
, including the Semi-Final loss to Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
and received another Brownlow Medal vote.
Leahy played a total of 18 games during the 1963
1963 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1963.-Premiership season:In 1963, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
season and kicked his first VFL goal during the Round 7 loss to South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. In 1964
1964 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1964.-Premiership season:In 1964, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
he kicked his second goal against South Melbourne (Round 11) 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
1965 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1965.-Premiership season:In 1965, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
– the Round 16 loss to Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
.
Leahy finished his career in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA) where he played briefly with both Yarraville
Yarraville Football Club
Yarraville Football Club was an Australian rules football club founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. In 1928, the club joined the VFA where it played until 1984 when the club went into recess. In 1996, the Kingsville Football Club in the FDFL who by this time had taken over the...
and Northcote
Northcote Football Club
Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
. He then coached South Melbourne's Under-19s football team.
Later life
Brian Leahy died in WodongaWodonga, Victoria
Wodonga is a small city on the Victorian side of the border with New South Wales, north-east of Melbourne, Australia. Adjacent to Wodonga across the border is the New South Wales city of Albury. Wodonga is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Wodonga LGA...
on 24 January 2004 and is buried at the Glenmorous Gardens Lawn Cemetery, Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
.