Leigh Matthews facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leigh Matthews
Statue of Matthews outside the MCG
Personal information
Full name	Leigh Raymond Matthews
Nickname(s)	Lethal, Barney Rubble
Date of birth	(1952-03-01) 1 March 1952 (age 73)
Place of birth	Frankston, Victoria
Original team	Chelsea (MPNFL)
Position(s)	Midfielder/Forward
Career highlights
Playing 4× VFL premiership player: 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983 VFL premiership captain: 1983 8× Peter Crimmins Perpetual Memorial Trophy: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976–1978, 1980, 1982 VFLPA MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy): 1982 Award renamed in 2002 in Matthews honour Coleman Medal: 1975 All-Australian team: 1972 2× VFL Team of the Year: 1982, 1983 6× Hawthorn leading goalkicker: 1973, 1975, 1981–1984 Hawthorn captain: 1981–1985 AFL Team of the Century Hawthorn Team of the Century Championship of Australia Championship: 1971 NFL Night Series championship: 1976 AFC Night Series premiership: 1977 VFL Night Series premiership: 1969 2× Australian National Football Carnival Championship: 1972, 1975 Captain of Victoria Coaching 4× AFL premiership coach: 1990, 2001–2003 3× All-Australian team: 2001–2003 AFL team of the year: 1990 AFLCA Coaching Legend Award: 2013 Hall of Fame Australian Football Hall of Fame – Legend status Sport Australia Hall of Fame - Legend Status Hawthorn Hall of Fame – Legend status Collingwood Hall of Fame Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame

Leigh Raymond Matthews (born 1 March 1952) is a famous former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for the Hawthorn team in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Later, he coached the Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions teams in the VFL and the AFL.

Matthews was known for his strong and skillful playing style. This earned him the nickname "Lethal Leigh." The AFL officially calls him the "best player of the 20th century." He is a 'Legend' in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He is also part of the Hawthorn and AFL teams of the century. After coaching, Matthews became a well-known TV and radio commentator for the AFL.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Matthews started playing junior football at the Chelsea Football Club. Football was a family sport for him. His brother, Kelvin, also played many games for Hawthorn and Geelong. Matthews was married and had his first child when he was 18 years old.

Playing Career: A Hawthorn Legend

Starting Strong in the VFL

Matthews joined the Hawthorn team in January 1969. He was only sixteen years old but had already played senior football in his local area. He played his first senior game for Hawthorn in 1969. He played as a forward pocket and kicked a goal with his very first kick! He scored at least one goal in all five games that year. He also won the club's Best First Year Player award.

By the middle of 1970, Matthews became a regular player. He played as a rover, moving forward to score goals. He quickly impressed everyone, kicking 20 goals in 16 games that season.

Dominating the 1970s

Even as a teenager, Matthews became a key player for Hawthorn in 1971. He was amazing at winning the ball, especially near the goals. He kicked 43 goals that year. He also earned his first of fourteen Victorian team jerseys. He won his first of eight Hawthorn best and fairest awards. And he won his first of four premiership medals as a player.

In 1971, Matthews had a moment that became famous. He accidentally hit another player, Barry Cable, with his elbow. This was one of a few times Matthews was involved in rough play during his career.

In 1972, Matthews showed his power against North Melbourne. He kicked 8 goals in one game. He also kicked six goals against South Melbourne later that year. He finished the season with 45 goals. He also won his second club best and fairest award. All this happened before he turned 21!

Matthews continued to shine in 1973. He kicked an amazing 11 goals against Essendon in one game. He also got 42 possessions in that same match. He spent more time in the midfield that year. He still managed to kick 51 goals in 19 games. By 1974, Matthews was known as one of the toughest and most effective players. He was strong, fast, and very hard to tackle. He often changed games with his brilliant solo efforts. He kicked 7 goals in a semi-final against Collingwood. He won his third best and fairest award. He averaged 21.8 possessions and kicked 52 goals for the season.

In 1975, Matthews became a true superstar. He won the Coleman Medal as the league's top goal kicker with 67 goals. This was rare for a player who wasn't a full-forward. He started the season very strongly, kicking 47 goals in the first 12 games. Hawthorn reached the Grand Final but lost to North Melbourne.

Matthews had another great season in 1976. He kicked 71 goals and averaged 22.5 possessions. He won his fourth best and fairest award. His best game was in a qualifying final against North Melbourne. He had 31 kicks and kicked 7 goals. Hawthorn played North again in the Grand Final. Matthews won his second premiership medal.

In 1977, Matthews had one of the greatest individual seasons ever. He achieved career highs in kicks, marks, handballs, and goals. He averaged 27.1 possessions and kicked 91 goals. He had 41 possessions in one game against Melbourne. He won Hawthorn's best and fairest award for the fifth time. His 91 goals set a record for a non-full-forward.

Matthews' performances in 1978 confirmed he was the game's top player. He kicked another 71 goals and averaged 25.5 possessions. He won his sixth best and fairest award. He also won his third premiership medal. Hawthorn played North Melbourne in the 1978 VFL Grand Final. Matthews was the best player on the field, with 28 possessions and 4 goals. This helped Hawthorn win.

In 1979, Matthews was having another great season. However, an injury kept him out of most of the last 10 games. He kicked 7 goals against Richmond in one game. He spent more time in the midfield that year.

Captain and Retirement

In 1980, Matthews became the captain of Hawthorn. He held this role until he retired in 1985. He was also chosen as captain of the Victorian State of Origin team. He won his seventh club best and fairest award. He spent less time in the forward line but averaged 26.9 possessions per game.

In 1981, Matthews started the season strongly against Melbourne. He played at full-forward and kicked 11 goals. He missed some games due to injury but returned to his usual role. He continued to play well, averaging 23.5 possessions and 3 goals per game. He was Hawthorn's leading goal kicker that year. He would be the leading goal kicker for the next four years too.

After a few seasons with injuries, Matthews returned to his best in 1982. He won the first-ever Players' Association Most Valuable Player award. This award was later renamed the Leigh Matthews Trophy in his honor. He kicked 7 goals against North Melbourne and 8 goals against Collingwood. He averaged 22.5 possessions and 3.4 goals per game. He won his eighth Hawthorn best and fairest award.

Matthews earned his "Lethal" nickname for his tough playing style. In 1982, he famously ran into a behind post at Windy Hill and broke it! A piece of the post broke off and hit the umpire. Commentator Lou Richards called him a "He-Man" because of his strength.

In 1983, Matthews was in his fifteenth season but showed no signs of slowing down. He averaged 22.3 possessions and 2.9 goals in his first twelve games. He then moved to full-forward for the rest of the season. He kicked at least three goals in every one of the last 10 games. This included the Grand Final, where he kicked 6 goals. This was his fourth premiership win as a player.

The 1985 season was Matthews' last as a player. During a game against Geelong, Matthews was involved in an incident with opponent Neville Bruns. Matthews was later suspended for four weeks. His 332nd and final game was the 1985 Grand Final loss to Essendon.

When he retired, Matthews had scored 915 goals. This is still the highest VFL/AFL tally for a player who wasn't a full-forward. He is currently ninth on the all-time goal-kicking list.

Coaching Career: Premiership Success

Coaching Collingwood

After retiring as a player, Matthews became an assistant coach at the Collingwood Football Club. He then became the head coach in 1986. In his first full season (1987), Collingwood finished twelfth.

In 1988, Matthews led Collingwood to finish second on the ladder. However, they were knocked out in the semi-final. The next year, they finished fifth but were again knocked out in the elimination final. In the 1990 Grand Final, Collingwood defeated Essendon. This ended their 32-year premiership drought, often called "the Colliwobbles". This was Matthews' fifth premiership medal overall.

Collingwood missed the finals in 1991 and 1993. In 1992, they finished third but were eliminated in the elimination final. In 1994, they made the finals again but lost to the eventual premiers, West Coast.

Matthews was let go as Collingwood's coach at the end of the 1995 season. Collingwood finished tenth that year and missed the finals. Matthews coached Collingwood for 224 games over ten seasons. He had 125 wins, 94 losses, and 5 draws.

Leading the Brisbane Lions

After three years away from coaching, Matthews was asked to coach the struggling Brisbane Lions. They had finished last in 1998. Matthews became their senior coach for the 1999 season. His impact was immediate. He lifted the team from last place to third in 1999. They made the finals but lost in the preliminary final. The Lions made the finals again in 2000.

In 2001, Matthews famously used a quote from the movie Predator: "if it bleeds, we can kill it." He used this to inspire his team before a game against Essendon. Essendon was the defending champion and had only lost two games in a long time. Brisbane won that game by 28 points. The Lions were undefeated for the rest of the season. They met Essendon again in the 2001 Grand Final and won! This was their first AFL premiership in club history.

This was the first of three premierships in a row for the Lions under Matthews. They defeated Collingwood in both the 2002 Grand Final and the 2003 Grand Final. These wins gave Matthews a total of eight premiership medals as a player or coach. In 2004, they tried for a fourth straight premiership but lost to Port Adelaide in the Grand Final.

In 2005, the Lions missed the finals for the first time under Matthews. They finished eleventh. Matthews took a short break during the year after his mother passed away. In 2006, their form dropped further, and they finished thirteenth. In 2007 and 2008, the Lions finished tenth. In 2007, Matthews coached his 200th game with the club. This made him the first person to play or coach 200 games with three different clubs.

Matthews resigned as Brisbane Lions coach on 1 September 2008. He felt it was the right time to leave. He coached the Brisbane Lions for 237 games. He had 142 wins, 92 losses, and 3 draws. His coaching style at the Lions was known for being very strict, but it was also very successful.

Head Coaching Record

Honours and Achievements

Playing Honours

Team Awards

• 4× VFL premiership player (Hawthorn): 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983
• 2× Minor premiership (Hawthorn): 1971, 1975
• 2× Night Series Winner (Hawthorn): 1969, 1977

Individual Awards

• VFLPA MVP Award (Later named the Leigh Matthews Trophy): 1982
• Coleman Medal: 1975
• All-Australian team: 1972
• Hawthorn Captain: 1981–1985
• 8× Peter Crimmins Medal: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982
• 6× Hawthorn leading goalkicker: 1973, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
• Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year: 1982
• 2× Victoria Australian rules football team: 1972, 1975
• Australian Football League Team of the Century
• Hawthorn Football Club Team of the Century

Coaching Honours

Team Awards

• AFL Premiership coach (Collingwood): 1990
• 3× AFL Premiership coach (Brisbane Lions): 2001, 2002, 2003

Individual Awards

• 4× Jock McHale Medal: 1990, 2001, 2002, 2003
• 3× All-Australian team: 2001, 2002, 2003
• Brisbane Lions Team of the Decade (1997–2006)

Hall of Fame and Life Membership

• Australian Football Hall of Fame – Legend Status
• Hawthorn Football Club Hall of Fame – Legend Status
• Collingwood Hall of Fame (1990 premiership team)
• Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame
• Queensland Hall of Fame – Legend status
• Hawthorn life member
• Brisbane Lions life member

Post-Career Recognition

Matthews was named "Player of the Century." He was also inducted as an official Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame. This is the highest honor a football person can receive. He was also named in both the AFL and Hawthorn teams of the century. In 2002, the AFLPA MVP award was renamed the Leigh Matthews Trophy in his honor.

Matthews is one of only four Australian rules footballers recognized as a Legend of Australian Sport. This is part of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The others are Ron Barassi, Ted Whitten, and Bob Skilton.

Outside Football

Before coaching the Brisbane Lions, Leigh Matthews was a guest commentator in the media. He later returned to commentate AFL matches for the Seven Network. Matthews commentated during the 2008 finals series and the 2008 Grand Final. He is also a commentator for 3AW radio. He writes articles for the Herald Sun newspaper.