Leigh Matthews

Leigh Matthews
Leigh Matthews
	Matthews working for Fox Footy, July 2025.
Personal information
Full name	Leigh Raymond Matthews
Nicknames	Lethal, Barney Rubble
Born	1 March 1952; Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Original team	Chelsea (MPNFL)
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	86 kg (190 lb)
Position	Midfielder/Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club
1969–1985	Hawthorn
Representative team honours
Years	Team
1971–1982	Victoria
Coaching career3
Years	Club
1986–1995	Collingwood
1999–2008	Brisbane Lions
; 1997–1998	Representative; Victoria
1998	Australia
Total
	1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1985. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 2008.
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;
	Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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 has credited Robert Korda, his closest friend and mentor to guiding him to 3 premierships with the Lions in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

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 recognized 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. Following his coaching career, Matthews has had multiple media roles, most notably as an AFL commentator on television with the Seven Network, and on radio with 3AW.