View source for Andrew McLeod

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1976}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Andrew McLeod
| image = Amcleod (cropped).jpg
| caption = McLeod playing for {{AFL Ade}} in 2005
| fullname = Andrew Luke McLeod
| nickname = Bunji, Macca
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|8|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Darwin, Northern Territory]], Australia
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[Darwin Football Club|Darwin]] ([[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]])/{{AFL PA}} ([[SANFL]])
| draftpick = Traded from {{AFL Fre}}, [[1994 AFL Draft]]
| position = Half-back, half forward, midfield
| guernsey = 23
| statsend = Round 17, 2010
| careerhighlights = *[[Australian Football Hall of Fame]]
* 2× [[AFL premiership]] player ([[1997 AFL Grand Final|1997]], [[1998 AFL Grand Final|1998]])
* 2× [[Norm Smith Medal]] ([[1997 AFL Grand Final|1997]], [[1998 AFL Grand Final|1998]])
* 3× [[Malcolm Blight Medal]] (1997, 2001, 2007)
* [[Leigh Matthews Trophy]] (2001)
* 5× [[All-Australian Team|All-Australian team]] (1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007(c))
* {{AFL Ade}} pre-season premiership (2003)
* [[Michael Tuck Medal]] (2003)
* [[International Rules Series]] captain (2007)
* [[Jim Stynes Medal]] (2005)
* [[Showdown Medal]] (2007)
* Polly Farmer Medal (2007)
* [[Adelaide Football Club#"Team of the Decade"|Adelaide Team of the Decade]] - Half Back flank
* [[Dream Team Australian rules football team|Dream Team]] captain (2008)
*[[AFL Rising Star]] nominee ([[1995 AFL Rising Star|1995]])
* [[Indigenous Team of the Century]]
* [[1990 SANFL Grand Final|SANFL Premiership]] player: ([[1994 SANFL Grand Final|1994]])
* [[Northern Territory Football Club|Northern Territory]] NEAFL premiership side (2011)
| height = 181&nbsp;cm
| weight = 81&nbsp;kg
| years1 = 1994
| club1 = {{AFL PA}} (SANFL)
| games_goals1 = 23 (36)
| years2 = 1995–2010
| club2 = {{AFL Ade}}
| games_goals2 = 340 (275)
| games_goalstotal = 363 (311)
| sooyears1 = 1997
| sooteam1 = [[The Allies (Australian rules football)|Allies]]
| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)
| sooyears2 = 2008
| sooteam2 = [[Dream Team Australian rules football team|Dream Team]]
| soogames_goals2 = 1 (0)
| nationalyears1 = 2000, 2001 & 2005(c)
| nationalteam1 = Australia
| nationalgames_goals1 = 6 (0)
}}
'''Andrew Luke McLeod''' (born 4 August 1976) is a former professional [[Australian rules football]]er who played for the [[Adelaide Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games.

McLeod is considered by many as the greatest player to have played for the [[Adelaide Football Club]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/crows-greatest-25|publisher= Adelaide Now|title=Crows Greatest 25}}</ref> McLeod won two premierships for the [[Adelaide Football Club]] in 1997 and 1998. He was also awarded the [[Norm Smith Medal]] for best on ground in the 1997 and 1998 AFL Grand Finals.

== Childhood ==
McLeod was born in [[Darwin, Northern Territory]]. He is [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] with [[Wardaman people|Wardaman]] and [[Warrgamay]] descent<ref name="kind of">{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/462799/andrew-mcleod-interview-deadliest|title=From hardly getting a touch, to AFL great: How footy 'kind of happened' for McLeod|work=AFL.com.au|last=Gorman|first=Sean|date=18 July 2020|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> through his mother, while his father Jock McLeod is of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent. McLeod had an older sister and older brother and was the family's youngest child.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=2}} When McLeod was young, his family moved to [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]], near Wardaman country, before returning to Darwin in early 1985.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=2}} He was educated at [[St John's College, Darwin|St John’s College Darwin]].

As a child, McLeod supported the [[Essendon Football Club]], and he also had experiences with AFL player and Darwin local [[Michael McLean (footballer)|Michael McLean]].<ref name="kind of"/>

{{Blockquote|text=My idol was Michael Mclean, number 51. I loved watching him play. He always gave me time when he came home. Seeing him on TV on the Winners and then when he came home you got to sit down with him and have a chat. He'd talk about what training you needed to do and the big league. I still keep in touch with him.|author=Andrew McLeod<ref name="kind of"/>}}

== Early football career ==

McLeod played a variety of sports as a junior, including [[Sport of athletics|athletics]], [[Association football|soccer]], [[rugby union]], [[rugby league]] and Australian rules football.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=3}} His family had a long history of playing for the [[Darwin Football Club]] in the [[Northern Territory Football League]], starting with his great-grandfather Put,{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=6}} down to his father, who had played over 200 games,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/nt/stories/s1827602.htm |title=The weekend in sport 13 and 14 January |publisher=ABC Northern Territory |access-date=19 October 2011|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111085729/http://www.abc.net.au/nt/stories/s1827602.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> so McLeod also began playing for their senior team in 1993.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=7}} As a gifted player, he was selected to represent the Northern Territory in the [[AFL Under 19 Championships|Teal Cup]],<ref name="kind of"/> where he was voted best-on-ground in the team's win against Victoria.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=7}}

[[Port Adelaide Football Club]] chief executive officer [[Brian Cunningham (footballer)|Brian Cunningham]] called McLeod's father Jock to offer McLeod a contract to play for Port Adelaide in the [[South Australian National Football League]] for $250 per game. Jock knew that moving to Adelaide to play football would be daunting for McLeod, so he secretly negotiated with Port Adelaide to drop his son off at in Adelaide and then leave. The pair drove to Adelaide and stayed in the home of the Duffield family, who were Port Adelaide supporters. McLeod wasn't told that he'd be staying behind until the morning that his father left him there.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|pp=26-27}} Despite the rough start, McLeod very quickly rose through the ranks of the Port Adelaide team. He started by playing one game in the Under-17s side, followed by one game in the Under-19s side and four games in the reserves side, then finishing the season with 14 consecutive games in the senior team, including becoming a premiership player by winning the [[1994 SANFL Grand Final]].<ref name="kind of"/>{{sfn|Kingston|2010|pp=32-34}}

The [[Fremantle Football Club]] was entering the [[Australian Football League]] in the 1995 season, and as part of the recruitment concessions they have been given, they sought to recruit McLeod. When McLeod met with Fremantle, coach [[Gerard Neesham]] had not seen him play before and asked McLeod to stand up to show how tall he was. McLeod felt insulted and belittled and refused to play for Fremantle.<ref name="Everett2014">{{cite book|author=Les Everett|title=Fremantle Dockers: An Illustrated History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORZTnwEACAAJ|year=2014|publisher=Slattery Media Group|isbn=978-0-9875263-4-2|page=41}}</ref> Adelaide's recruiter Tim Johnson heard that the negotiations weren't going well, so [[Adelaide Football Club]] general manager Bill Sanders contacted McLeod's father to let him know the club was interested in recruiting him. Adelaide and Fremantle negotiated a trade the day before the trading deadline, with Fremantle receiving forward [[Chris Groom]] in return. The Crows had to compete for McLeod with [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]], who had offered an inducement to McLeod's father if he was able to convince McLeod to sign with them.<ref name="ISM">{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/adelaide/indigenous-sport-month-andrew-mcleod-is-the-greatest-indigenous-crow-ever/news-story/6cbef7fc0fc5fcbcc0493d86e1793463|title=Indigenous Sport Month: Andrew McLeod is the greatest Indigenous Crow ever|work=The Advertiser|last=Walsh|first=Liz|date=4 June 2021|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>

== AFL career ==
=== First years at Adelaide (1995–1996) ===
Adelaide players initially gave McLeod nickname "Hamburger" because he was seen as chubby,<ref name="kind of"/>{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=75}} but soon adopted the nickname "Bunji" (which means "Brother") that he had been given while playing in Darwin.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=75}} He made his AFL debut for the Crows in their Round 6 match against [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]], which the Crows won but 8 points, but McLeod spent most of the game on the interchange bench and only touched the ball four times through the game.<ref name="kind of"/><ref name="AFL Tables">{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/A/Andrew_McLeod.html|title=Andrew McLeod|work=AFL Tables|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1995/011119950505.html|title=Adelaide v Melbourne - Fri, 5-May-1995 8:40 PM (9:10 PM) - Match Stats|work=AFL Tables|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> McLeod was dropped after this game, then played his second game in Round 9 against [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]]. Adelaide trailed Hawthorn by 34 points at half time, but launched a comeback in the second half. They were still down by 4 points in the dying seconds of the game. The ball was kicked inside Adelaide's forward 50, and McLeod raced at the ball, competing with Hawk defender [[Ray Jencke]]. He was able to recover the ball, evade Jenke's attempts to tackle him, and kick a dribbling goal from a tight angle to win the game for Adelaide.<ref name="ISM"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1995/011019950527.html|title=Adelaide v Hawthorn - Sat, 27-May-1995 8:40 PM (9:10 PM)|work=AFL Tables|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=McLeod, somehow, miraculously gathers possession of this wet and slippery ball, arches his back, goes one way and then the other and leaves Jenke slipping and sliding in his wake. Then, against the pressure of time and finding himself in a position to somehow conceive a way to win, he calmly caresses the greasy ball onto and across his boot and dribbles it through the goals in an arc from the boundary.|author=[[Robert Shaw (footballer)|Robert Shaw]], Adelaide coach{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=74}}}}

Later in the year, McLeod was nominated for the [[1995 AFL Rising Star|Norwich Rising Star award]],{{sfn|Kingston|2010|p=75}} but he discovered towards the end of the 1995 season that he had broken several bones in his feet, and he had to have injections in his feet to play the last seven rounds without pain. The injuries came as a result of McLeod being forced to wear boots made by [[Adidas]], who were a Crows sponsor at the time. Adidas boots didn't fit McLeod's foot shape, so once it became apparent that the shoes were causing his injuries, McLeod started wearing [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] boots with Adidas stripes painted on them. This lasted until he signed an exclusive agreement with Adidas to have them custom-make shoes that would fit his feet from 1998 on.{{sfn|Kingston|2010|pp=77-78}}

=== Dual premierships and Norm Smith medals (1997–1999) ===

==== 1997 ====

McLeod's breakout year came in 1997 under Adelaide's new coach, [[Malcolm Blight]]. During pre-season training, Blight had the team doing a lot of running, which helped McLeod lose a significant amount of weight.<ref name="kind of"/><ref name="ISM"/> Blight had first seen McLeod in the 1995 game against Hawthorn that saw him kick the winning goal, so Blight played him in the forward line until he had a discussion with [[Stephen Williams (footballer)|Stephen Williams]], who had been McLeod's coach at Port Adelaide in the SANFL. Williams said that he had been used at half-back, so Blight had McLeod play there for the rest of the season.<ref name="ISM"/>

{{Blockquote|text=I said to Stephen: 'What about Andrew?'. He said, 'Well, we got him as a half-back flanker from Darwin'. And that was almost the light bulb moment for me. ... McLeod slotted in there beautifully. Some of the games he played there in '97, he was almost faultless, he could beat his man, and then set us up.|author=[[Malcolm Blight]]<ref name="ISM"/>}}

McLeod had a standout moment in Round 19 in [[Showdown (AFL)|Showdown II]] against Port Adelaide, kicking a difficult goal in the final minutes to give the Crows a 7-point lead that they carried to the end of the game.<ref name="ISM"/>

In the preliminary final against the [[Western Bulldogs]], McLeod, who had been playing primarily as a forward or half-back flanker, was placed into the midfield in the second half by Blight in an effort to spark the Crows side, who trailed by 31 points at half-time. It would be the first time in McLeod's career that he would play in the midfield; and, in a thrilling contest, McLeod and the Crows would win the match by two points to reach the Grand Final for the first time in the club's history.

In the Grand Final against [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]], McLeod would take his first significant step in his journey towards joining the game's elite. Accumulating 31 disposals and 11 marks, he was judged best on ground against the Saints, winning the prestigious [[Norm Smith Medal]] while helping his team win the AFL premiership. This was followed shortly thereafter with a gold jacket when he was named as the Crows Best and Fairest for the 1997 season.

Because of McLeod's success, the [[Brisbane Lions]] approached him with an offer to move clubs, but McLeod chose to stay with Adelaide.<ref name="ISM"/>

==== 1998 ====

Having caught the eye of football followers with his magical feats in the 1997 finals, McLeod would continue to dazzle crowds with his pace and agility in 1998 before being named in the [[All-Australian team]] for the first time in his career despite only playing 15 games due to injury.<ref name="pick1"/> He would also get 10 [[Brownlow Medal]] votes in 1998 after only 1 vote in 1997.

In a preliminary final rematch against the Bulldogs, McLeod would kick a career-high seven goals while being opposed to [[Tony Liberatore]], who was reputed to be the most ferocious tagger in the game at the time. In the following game—against Grand Final favourites, the [[North Melbourne Football Club|Kangaroos]]—the Crows would win by 35 points, with McLeod emulating his feats from a year earlier. Gathering 30 disposals and winning back-to-back Norm Smith Medals, McLeod became the first player to win two Norm Smith Medals since [[Gary Ayres]] in 1986 and 1988.

==== 1999 ====

Adelaide would not match the success of the two previous seasons in 1999 and would finish 13th; however, McLeod continued on progressing as one of Adelaide's young stars, gathering 7 Brownlow votes.

=== Playing under Gary Ayres (2000–2004) ===

==== 2000 ====
McLeod had an outstanding season in 2000, playing most of the season in the midfield. He averaged 24 disposals per game, an increase from 18 in 1999, and kicked 28 goals. He made the All-Australian team as a half-forward, narrowly finished second in Adelaide's Best and Fairest to [[Simon Goodwin]], and polled 20 Brownlow Medal votes, finishing third behind [[Shane Woewodin]] and runner-up [[Scott West]].

==== 2001 ====
McLeod had perhaps the finest season of his career in 2001, controversially being named runner-up in the Brownlow Medal Count. Having been made a permanent fixture in the Crows midfield by coach Gary Ayres, McLeod averaged a career-best 24.7 disposals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pc-adelaide-crows--andrew-mcleod |publisher=FootyWire|title=Andrew McLeod career statistics}}</ref> He would win the [[Leigh Matthews Trophy]] to be recognised as the [[Most Valuable Player]] in the league, according to a vote by his peers in the [[AFL Players Association]], as well as his second best-and-fairest award from the club.

McLeod, however, would be denied the AFL's greatest individual honour in the 2001 [[Brownlow Medal]]. The Crows had arranged for McLeod's father Jock to come to the Brownlow count without his knowledge as a surprise for if McLeod won.<ref name="ISM"/> Trailing by two votes in the last round to [[Jason Akermanis]] of the [[Brisbane Lions]], he had amassed a season-high 37 disposals in Adelaide's final round loss to Fremantle; however, he was awarded no votes in that game, and he consequently finished second behind Akermanis. Akermanis later wrote, "I stole the Brownlow from Andrew McLeod," as McLeod was a raging favourite and won the majority of media awards for the year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aker-recalls-pinching-brownlow-medal-at-the-death-from-andrew-mcleod/story-e6frf9jf-1225774172909 |publisher=Herald Sun|title=Aker recalls pinching Brownlow Medal at the death from Andrew McLeod}}</ref>

==== 2002 ====
McLeod had another fine season in 2002, but he was reported in round 4 for the first and only time in his career due to a late charge on Essendon's Matthew Lloyd. McLeod received a one-match ban for the incident, playing every other game of the season and amassing 16 Brownlow votes; however, he only finished equal 6th in the best and fairest.

==== 2003 ====

McLeod played every game of the home-and-away season in yet another superb year.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} He would lead the [[2003 Brownlow medal]] count until round 15, remarkably having six best-on-ground performances up until that point, according to the officiating umpires of matches McLeod played in. However, McLeod never got any more votes and would finish 10th with 18 votes, although the margin was only 4 points between McLeod and the joint winners; teammate [[Mark Ricciuto]] was one of these players. He would finish 3rd in the Adelaide best and fairest.

==== 2004 ====

2004 was a disappointing year for Adelaide, and coach Gary Ayres would be sacked later in the year. McLeod only polled two votes in the Brownlow despite a season disposal average of 21.

=== Playing under Neil Craig (2005–2010) ===

==== 2005 ====
In 2005, under coach [[Neil Craig]], McLeod made a return to the half-back line to provide his side with run and drive from defence using his sublime skills. McLeod polled 11 votes in the 2005 [[Brownlow Medal]].

In October, McLeod was named co-captain of the Australian [[International rules football]] team against [[Ireland]]. In what became a somewhat spiteful match, Australia would win comfortably, while McLeod was named best player and awarded the [[Jim Stynes Medal]].<ref name="pick1">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/pick-1-ben-cousins-jason-akermanis-or-andrew-mcleod/story-e6frf9jf-1225910053870 |publisher= Herald Sun|title=Pick 1: Ben Cousins, Jason Akermanis or Andrew McLeod?|first=Jon|last=Anderson|date=25 August 2010 |access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>

In 2005, McLeod was named in the [[Indigenous Team of the Century]] in the position of [[Follower (Australian rules football)|ruck rover]].<ref name="ISM"/>

==== 2006 ====
[[File:McLeodMarkcrop.jpg|thumb|right|McLeod challenging a mark in a game against Port Adelaide]]
After a year under Neil Craig's system, McLeod would return to some of his best form, leading to his 4th All-Australian selection.<ref name="pick1"/>

Against the [[Essendon Football Club]] in round 10 at [[Football Park|AAMI Stadium]], McLeod played his 250th AFL game, where he tallied 18 disposals while soaring for a spectacular mark in a 138-point demolition of the Bombers.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/adelaide-demolish-hapless-bombers/2006/06/03/1148956551481.html Adelaide demolish hapless Bombers]</ref>

For much of the season, however, McLeod played with a [[Bursa (anatomy)|bursa]] in his left foot. After round 16, the decision was made for him to undergo surgery to remove the bursa, an operation expected to keep him out for a few weeks.

McLeod made a relatively earlier-than-expected return to the side in round 19. However, by round 21, after a disappointing loss to [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]], his foot was heavily infected, and the club announced that he would require further surgery along with the disappointing news that he would more than likely miss the rest of the season and finals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200608/s1726336.htm|publisher=ABC Sport|title=McLeod sidelined with foot infection|access-date=11 September 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901035011/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200608/s1726336.htm|archive-date=1 September 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> McLeod's injury would later prove to be a huge blow to Adelaide's premiership chances.

Despite rating himself just a "two out of ten" chance to return for the finals,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=297399 |publisher=AFL.com.au |title=McLeod almost out of time |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164408/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news |archive-date=9 May 2006 }}</ref> McLeod made a surprise return to the side in the preliminary final against the [[West Coast Eagles]]. After a promising first half, however, McLeod and the Crows were swamped by the West Coast midfield in the second half to eventually lose by ten points. McLeod only polled seven votes in the 2006 [[Brownlow Medal]] despite averaging 22 possessions and being named All-Australian. He finished 4th in Adelaide's best and fairest.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afc.com.au/club/history/club-champions|publisher=Adelaide Crows|title=Top 10 Club Champions}}</ref>

==== 2007 ====
Prior to the start of the AFL 2007 season, McLeod won the Polly Farmer Medal after being the best for the Indigenous All-Stars in a 50-point loss to [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]]. McLeod, the side's captain, kicked two goals to be his team's leading goalkicker.

McLeod played most of 2007 again as a half-back flanker, sweeping up loose balls and creating his trademark run out of defence with his smooth skills. McLeod, however, was well held in his final game of the season, finishing with just 12 disposals after being heavily tagged by [[Hawthorn Hawks|Hawthorn]]'s [[Richard Vandenberg]] in Adelaide's elimination final loss to the Hawks.

Nevertheless, McLeod had a fine season; his average of 23.9 disposals was his highest since finishing runner-up for the Brownlow Medal in 2001. This was duly acknowledged when he was announced as captain and a half-back flanker of the [[2007 All-Australian team]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/18/2035897.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227075217/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/18/2035897.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 December 2007 |work=ABC News|title=McLeod chosen as All Australian skipper}}</ref> McLeod polled 15 votes in the [[2007 Brownlow Medal]] and won the club's Best and Fairest award.

==== 2008 ====
Four weeks after returning from a stint on the sidelines due to knee surgery, McLeod celebrated his 300-game milestone with a 63-point victory over Richmond in round 19. Andrew McLeod is just the second Aboriginal player to reach 300 games. After the season's conclusion, however, McLeod's knee flared up again, forcing him to have surgery during the off-season.

==== 2009 ====
On his return from injury, McLeod captained the Indigenous All-Stars in the 2009 pre-season.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25000790-12428,00.html | work=The Advertiser | title=McLeod to captain Indigenous All-Stars | first1=Sam | last1=Lienert | date=2 February 2009}}</ref> McLeod continued to perform consistently for the Crows, and in round 9 (fittingly, it was Indigenous Round) he played his 313th game, breaking the club games record held by former teammate and good friend [[Mark Ricciuto]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velocitysports.com.au/default.asp?PageID=975 |work=Velocity Sports |title=A moment in Crows history |date=23 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225041255/http://www.velocitysports.com.au/default.asp?PageID=975 |archive-date=25 February 2011 }}</ref>

====2010 final season and retirements====
McLeod began the 2010 season healthy and in decent form. However, in a round 11 match against Fremantle, he re-injured his troubled right knee, ultimately keeping him sidelined for a month.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/mcleod-goes-under-the-knife/story-e6frecoc-1225876703926 |publisher= Adelaide Now|title=Andrew McLeod's knee is worse than first thought }}</ref> He returned on 16 July 2010 in a round 16 match against Geelong in which Adelaide won by 11 points. This would ultimately be McLeod's last game of AFL football, as his knee continued to have problems.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/crows-stars-simon-goodwin-and-andrew-mcleod-injured-and-out-of-the-showdown/story-e6frea6u-1225896223678 |publisher= Adelaide Now|title=Crows stars Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod injured and out of the Showdown}}</ref>
On 23 August 2010, McLeod announced his retirement from AFL football.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/100967/default.aspx |publisher=Adelaide Football Club |title=Andrew McLeod retires |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825164031/http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/100967/default.aspx |archive-date=25 August 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/marathon-man-andrew-mcleod-opts-for-retirement/story-e6frg7mf-1225909095239 |publisher=The Australian |title=Marathon man Andrew McLeod opts for retirement |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231071708/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/marathon-man-andrew-mcleod-opts-for-retirement/story-e6frg7mf-1225909095239 |archive-date=31 December 2012 |first1=Peter |last1=Lalor |date=24 August 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> 
Andrew McLeod's retirement announcement:

{{Quote box
 | quote = "To the supporters of the Adelaide Football Club, I thank you for sharing my journey and making it a most memorable one. To all my coaches, I am eternally grateful for passing on your knowledge to make me a better player and a person, And finally to my teammates, past and present, without you guys, nothing I have achieved in footy would have been made possible if it weren't for all of you. Thanks for making it the most amazing journey, one I can only dream of"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/101000/default.aspx |publisher=Adelaide Football Club |title=McLeod retirement statement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717053926/http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/101000/default.aspx |archive-date=17 July 2011 }}</ref>
}}

Following his retirement, McLeod has been compared with [[Jason Akermanis]] and [[Ben Cousins]] as three greats of the AFL who all retired in 2010.<ref name="pick1"/>

== Later career ==
In 2011, McLeod signed a part-time contract with the [[Northern Territory Football Club]] in the inaugural [[North East Australian Football League]] season, and played a total of eight games for the Thunder, including the finals series. McLeod was a part of the Thunder's Northern Conference and NEAFL premiership teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neafl.com.au/index.php?id=3|title=Andrew McLeod|publisher=North East Australian Football League|access-date=25 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409045335/http://neafl.com.au/index.php?id=3|archive-date=9 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Statistics==
:<ref>[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/A/Andrew_McLeod.html Andrew McLeod's player profile at AFL Tables]</ref>

{{Australian rules football statistics legend|p=y}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1995 AFL season|1995]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 15 || 17 || 12 || 101 || 61 || 162 || 20 || 18 || 1.1 || 0.8 || 6.7 || 4.1 || 10.8 || 1.3 || 1.2 || 0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1996 AFL season|1996]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 19 || 20 || 12 || 110 || 84 || 194 || 31 || 22 || 1.1 || 0.6 || 5.8 || 4.4 || 10.2 || 1.6 || 1.2 || 0
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1997 AFL season|1997]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 26 || 10 || 8 || 287 || 151 || 438 || 96 || 51 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 11.0 || 5.8 || 16.8 || 3.7 || 2.0 || 1
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1998 AFL season|1998]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 19 || 30 || 20 || 232 || 101 || 333 || 67 || 42 || 1.6 || 1.1 || 12.2 || 5.3 || 17.5 || 3.5 || 2.2 || 10
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1999 AFL season|1999]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 22 || 21 || 13 || 281 || 127 || 408 || 82 || 35 || 1.0 || 0.6 || 12.8 || 5.8 || 18.5 || 3.7 || 1.6 || 7
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2000 AFL season|2000]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 22 || 28 || 14 || 371 || 153 || 524 || 80 || 49 || 1.3 || 0.6 || 16.9 || 7.0 || 23.8 || 3.6 || 2.2 || 20
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2001 AFL season|2001]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 23 || 29 || 27 || 408 || 160 || 568 || 71 || 63 || 1.3 || 1.2 || 17.7 || 7.0 || 24.7 || 3.1 || 2.7 || 21
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2002 AFL season|2002]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 23 || 25 || 22 || 322 || 190 || 512 || 76 || 74 || 1.1 || 1.0 || 14.0 || 8.3 || 22.3 || 3.3 || 3.2 || 16
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2003 AFL season|2003]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 24 || 29 || 14 || 327 || 172 || 499 || 45 || 65 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 13.6 || 7.2 || 20.8 || 1.9 || 2.7 || 18
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2004 AFL season|2004]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 22 || 13 || 12 || 312 || 160 || 472 || 61 || 67 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 14.2 || 7.3 || 21.5 || 2.8 || 3.0 || 2
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2005 AFL season|2005]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 25 || 13 || 13 || 301 || 155 || 456 || 73 || 51 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 12.0 || 6.2 || 18.2 || 2.9 || 2.0 || 11
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2006 AFL season|2006]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 20 || 6 || 6 || 287 || 159 || 446 || 93 || 51 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 14.4 || 8.0 || 22.3 || 4.7 || 2.6 || 7
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2007 AFL season|2007]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 23 || 6 || 5 || 373 || 177 || 550 || 81 || 40 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 16.2 || 7.7 || 23.9 || 3.5 || 1.7 || 15
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2008 AFL season|2008]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 21 || 9 || 5 || 297 || 129 || 426 || 69 || 34 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 14.1 || 6.1 || 20.3 || 3.3 || 1.6 || 4
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2009 AFL season|2009]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 24 || 10 || 10 || 310 || 212 || 522 || 76 || 60 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 12.9 || 8.8 || 21.8 || 3.2 || 1.7 || 7
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2010 AFL season|2010]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 23 || 12 || 9 || 3 || 121 || 93 || 214 || 36 || 30 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 10.1 || 7.8 || 17.8 || 3.0 || 2.5 || 3
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 340
! 275
! 196
! 4440
! 2284
! 6724
! 1057
! 752
! 0.8
! 0.6
! 13.1
! 6.7
! 19.8
! 3.1
! 2.2
! 142
|}

==Honours and achievements==

*'''[[AFL Premiership|AFL]]'''
**'''Team'''
***'''[[AFL Premiership]] ([[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]])''': [[1997 AFL Grand Final|1997]], [[1998 AFL Grand Final|1998]]
***'''[[McClelland Trophy]] ([[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]])''': [[2005 AFL season|2005]]
***'''[[List of Australian Football League pre-season and night series premiers#Pre-season cup winners 1988–2013|Pre-Season Cup]] ([[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]])''': [[2003 Wizard Home Loans Cup#Final|2003]]
**'''Individual'''
***'''[[Leigh Matthews Trophy|VFLPA MVP Award (Later named the Leigh Matthews Trophy)]]''': 2001
***'''[[Malcolm Blight Medal|Malcolm Blight Medal (Adelaide F.C. Best & Fairest)]]''': 1997, 2001, 2007
***'''[[Norm Smith Medal]]''': [[1997 AFL Grand Final|1997]], [[1998 AFL Grand Final|1998]]
***'''[[All-Australian team|All-Australian]]''': [[All-Australian team#1998|1998]], [[All-Australian team#2000|2000]], [[All-Australian team#2001|2001]], [[All-Australian team#2006|2006]], [[All-Australian team#2007|2007]] ([[Captain (Australian rules football)|C]])
***'''[[Australian international rules football team|Australian Representative Honours in]] [[International rules football|International Rules Football]]''': [[2001 International Rules Series|2001]], [[2002 International Rules Series|2002]], [[2005 International Rules Series|2005]] ([[Captain (Australian rules football)|C]])
***'''[[Jim Stynes Medal]]''': 2005
***'''[[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)|Indigenous All-Stars Representative Honours]]''': 2003 ([[Captain (Australian rules football)|C]]), 2005, 2007 ([[Captain (Australian rules football)|C]]), 2009 ([[Captain (Australian rules football)|C]])
***'''[[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian football)|Polly Farmer Medal]]''': 2007
***'''[[AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match|Dream Team Representative Honours in AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match]]''': 2008 ([[Captain (Australian rules football)|C]])
***'''[[Michael Tuck Medal]]''': [[2003 Wizard Home Loans Cup#Final|2003]]
***'''[[Showdown Medal]]''': 2007 (Round 3)
***'''[[AFL Rising Star|AFL Rising Star Nominee]]''': 1995 (Round 20)
***'''[[List of AFL players to have played 300 games|300 Game Player]]'''
***'''[[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide F.C. Games Record Holder]]''': 340 Games
***'''[[Indigenous Team of the Century|Indigenous Team of the Century - Ruck Rover]]'''
***'''[[Merv Agars Medal]]''': 2000, 2001
*'''[[SANFL]]'''
**'''Team'''
***'''[[SANFL|SANFL Premiership]] ([[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]])''': 1994
*'''[[North East Australian Football League|NEAFL]]'''
**'''Team'''
***'''[[North East Australian Football League|NEAFL Premiership]] ([[Northern Territory Football Club|Northern Territory]])''': 2011

==Controversies==
In 2005, McLeod and former friend tennis player [[Lleyton Hewitt]] had a much publicised dispute over the use of footage shot at Aboriginal sacred sites in a DVD Hewitt was to release.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tennis/hewitt--love-or-hate-him/2006/01/15/1137259943496.html |publisher=The Age|title=Hewitt - love him or hate him | location=Melbourne | date=16 January 2006}}</ref>

McLeod admitted in 2018 in a podcast that he doesn't feel welcome at his old club in the Crows saying "the Crows doesn't really have that vibe" referring to other clubs having players come to their former clubs and feel welcomed back.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Crows icon McLeod unleashes on former club|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/i-don-t-feel-welcome-at-crows-mcleod/858148c7-4286-4b32-9e14-1467ae3bc3a8|access-date=2021-06-07|website=wwos.nine.com.au|language=en}}</ref> 

==References==

=== Citations ===

{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

*{{cite book|last=Kingston|first=Geoff|title=Black Crow: the Andrew McLeod story|publisher=Pan Macmillan Australia Property Ltd|isbn=978-1-4050-3991-8|url=https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781742621777/|year=2010}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{AFL Tables|ref=A/Andrew_McLeod.html}}

{{Navboxes|title=Adelaide Football Club|titlestyle=background: #0F1432; color: #FFAA00; border: solid #FF001E 2px|list=
{{1997 Adelaide premiership players}}
{{1998 Adelaide premiership players}}
{{Malcolm Blight Medal}}
{{Showdown Medal}}
{{Norm Smith Medal}}
{{VFL/AFL club games record holders}}
{{AFL MVPs}}
{{Michael Tuck Medal}}
{{1995 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
}}
{{Navboxes|title=All-Australian teams|titlestyle=background:#060; color:gold;|list=
{{All-Australian captains}}
{{1998 All-Australian team}}
{{2000 All-Australian team}}
{{2001 All-Australian team}}
{{2006 All-Australian team}}
{{2007 All-Australian team}}
}}
{{Navboxes|title=Australia international rules football team|titlestyle=background:#060; color:gold;|list=
{{Australia international rules football team captains}}
{{2000 Australian international rules team}}
{{2001 Australian international rules team}}
{{2005 Australian international rules team}}
{{Jim Stynes Medal}}
}}
{{Navboxes|title=Indigenous All-Stars|titlestyle=background:black; color:gold;|list=
{{Indigenous All-Stars captains}}
{{2003 Indigenous All-Stars squad}}
{{2005 Indigenous All-Stars squad}}
{{2007 Indigenous All-Stars squad}}
{{2009 Indigenous All-Stars squad}}
{{Polly Farmer Medal winners}}
}}
{{Navboxes|list=
{{1997 The Allies State of Origin players}}
{{2008 Dream Team players}}
{{Northern Territory Team of the Century}}
{{AFL Indigenous Team of the Century}}
{{1994 Port Adelaide premiership players}}
{{VFL/AFL club best and fairest winners in premiership years}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McLeod, Andrew}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Adelaide Football Club players]]
[[Category:Adelaide Football Club premiership players]]
[[Category:All-Australians (AFL)]]
[[Category:Leigh Matthews Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Norm Smith Medal winners]]
[[Category:Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) players]]
[[Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players (all competitions)]]
[[Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football]]
[[Category:Australian people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Malcolm Blight Medal winners]]
[[Category:Allies State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Darwin Football Club players]]
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[[Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Australia international rules football team players]]
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[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Darwin, Northern Territory]]
[[Category:People educated at St John's College, Darwin]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]
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