View source for Leigh Matthews

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (born 1952)}}
{{For|the 21-year-old South African student murdered in 2004|Murder of Leigh Matthews}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Leigh Matthews
| image = Leigh Matthews 2025.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Matthews working for Fox Footy, July 2025.
| fullname = Leigh Raymond Matthews
| nickname = Lethal, Barney Rubble
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|3|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Frankston, Victoria]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = Chelsea ([[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League|MPNFL]])
| height = 178&nbsp;cm<ref>{{cite web|title=Hawthorn's pocket rockets|url=http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2018-01-19/hawthorns-pocket-rockets|publisher=Hawthorn Football Club|date=19 January 2018|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
| weight = 86&nbsp;kg
| position = Midfielder/Forward
| statsend = 1985
| coachstatsend = 2008
| years1 = 1969&ndash;1985
| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}
| games_goals1 = 332 (915)
| sooteam1 = [[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victoria]]
| sooyears1 = 1971&ndash;1982
| soogames_goals1 = 14 (29)
| coachyears1 = 1986&ndash;1995
| coachclub1 = {{AFL Col}}
| coachgames_wins1 = 224 (125&ndash;94&ndash;5)
| coachyears2 = 1999&ndash;2008
| coachclub2 = {{AFL BL}}
| coachgames_wins2 = 237 (142&ndash;92&ndash;3)
| coachyears3 = '''Club total'''
| coachclub3 = 
| coachgames_wins3 = '''461 (267&ndash;186&ndash;8)'''
| coachyears4 = <br>1997&ndash;1998
| coachclub4 = '''Representative'''<br>[[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victoria]]
| coachgames_wins4 = <br>2 (2&ndash;0&ndash;0)
| coachyears5 = 1998
| coachclub5 = [[Australia international rules football team|Australia]]
| coachgames_wins5 = 2 (1&ndash;1&ndash;0)
| coachyears6 = '''Representative total'''
| coachclub6 = 
| coachgames_wins6 = '''4 (3&ndash;1&ndash;0)'''
| coachgames_winstotal = 465 (270&ndash;187&ndash;8)
| careerhighlights = '''Playing'''
* 4× [[List of Australian Football League premiers|VFL premiership player]]: [[1971 VFL Grand Final|1971]], [[1976 VFL Grand Final|1976]], [[1978 VFL Grand Final|1978]], [[1983 VFL Grand Final|1983]]
* [[List of VFL/AFL premiership captains and coaches|VFL premiership captain]]: [[1983 VFL Grand Final|1983]]
* 8× [[Peter Crimmins Medal|Peter Crimmins Perpetual Memorial Trophy]]: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976–1978, 1980, 1982
* [[Leigh Matthews Trophy|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× [[List of Hawthorn Football Club leading goalkickers|Hawthorn leading goalkicker]]: 1973, 1975, 1981–1984
* [[List of Hawthorn Football Club captains|Hawthorn captain]]: 1981–1985
* [[Australian Football League|AFL Team of the Century]]
* [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] Team of the Century
* [[Championship of Australia#Championships by year|Championship of Australia]] Championship: [[1971 Championship of Australia|1971]]
* [[NFL Night Series]] championship: [[1976 NFL Championship Series (Australia)|1976]] 
* [[AFC Night Series]] premiership: 1977
* [[VFL Night Series]] premiership: 1969
* 2× [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football#Australian National Football Carnival|Australian National Football Carnival]] Championship: [[1972 Perth Carnival|1972]], [[1975 Knockout Carnival|1975]]
* Captain of Victoria

'''Coaching'''
* 4× [[List of VFL/AFL premiership captains and coaches|AFL premiership coach]]: [[1990 AFL Grand Final|1990]], [[2001 AFL Grand Final|2001]]–[[2003 AFL Grand Final|2003]]
* 3× [[All-Australian team]]: 2001–2003
* AFL team of the year: 1990
* [[AFL Coaches Association Awards#Coaching Legend Award|AFLCA Coaching Legend Award]]: 2013

'''Hall of Fame'''
* [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] – Legend status
* [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame Awards|Sport Australia Hall of Fame]] - Legend Status
* [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] Hall of Fame – Legend status
* [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] Hall of Fame
* [[Brisbane Lions]] Hall of Fame
}}

'''Leigh Raymond Matthews''' (born 1 March 1952) is a former [[Australian rules football]]er and coach. He played for [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] in the [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] (VFL) and coached {{AFL Col}} and the {{AFL BL}} 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.<ref>Holmesby and Main, 2011, p. 542.</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news| last=Blake| first=Martin| title='Lethal' on verge of code's elite level| newspaper=[[The Age]]| url=https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/25/1064083127334.html | access-date=28 June 2010 | location=Melbourne | date=26 September 2003}}</ref> Following his coaching career, Matthews has had multiple media roles, most notably as an [[Australian Football League|AFL]] commentator on television with the [[Seven Network]], and on radio with [[3AW]].

==Early life==

Matthews played his junior football at the [[Chelsea, Victoria|Chelsea]] Football Club. He was part of a footballing family: Matthews' brother [[Kelvin Matthews|Kelvin]] played 155 games at Hawthorn and [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]]. Matthews was married and had his first child at 18.

==Playing career==

===Hawthorn===

===1960s===
Matthews joined [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] in January 1969, aged sixteen and having already played senior suburban football.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWkBZBHOF-4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/RWkBZBHOF-4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Open Mike - Leigh Matthews Extended Edition (2011)|publisher=YouTube|date=27 January 2014|access-date=10 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Leigh Matthews">{{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/club/history/hall-of-fame/leigh-matthews|title=Leigh Matthews|access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="australianfootball.com">{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Leigh%2BMatthews/10232|title=LEIGH MATTHEWS|access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref> He made his senior debut for the Hawks in Round 16 of the [[1969 VFL season|1969 season]] against [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] as a [[forward pocket]], crumbing around the feet of Hawthorn's champion full forward, [[Peter Hudson]]. Matthews kicked a goal with his [[List of first kick/first goal kickers in the Australian Football League|first kick]] and went on to kick at least one goal in each of his five games that year, winning the club's Best First Year Player award. By midway through [[1970 VFL season|1970]], Matthews had earned a regular place in the team as a [[Rover (Australian rules football)|rover]] rotating forward. He was immediately impressive, kicking 20 goals from 16 games for the season.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com" /><ref name="sahof.org.au">{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/leigh-matthews/|title=Leigh Matthews|access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref>

===1970s===
Though still a teenager, Matthews became one of the most important players in a dominant Hawthorn team in [[1971 VFL season|1971]]. He developed an uncanny ability to win contests, especially near the goals. He kicked 43 goals at an average of 1.9 in 1971 and earned his first of fourteen [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football|Victorian guernseys]], his first of eight [[Peter Crimmins Trophy|Hawthorn best and fairest awards]], and his first of four playing premiership medallions.<ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

On 17 July 1971, Matthews notoriously felled one of the game's fairest and best rovers, [[Barry Cable]], with an elbow to the head. This was the first in a series of occasional violent lapses that punctuated, and ultimately soiled, Matthews' stellar career, culminating in his conviction for criminal assault arising out of an on-field incident in 1985.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

In Round 2 of [[1972 VFL season|1972]], Matthews destroyed [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] for the first of what would end up being many times during his playing career. He kicked 8 goals in the absence of Hudson (who suffered a season-ending knee injury the previous week). Matthews kicked another six goals against [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne]] in Round 18 and finished the season with 45 goals at 2.1 per game; additionally, he won his second club best and fairest—all this before his 21st birthday.

Matthews made his presence felt early again in [[1973 VFL season|1973]] with an amazing 11-goal haul against [[Essendon Bombers|Essendon]] in Round 3, also amassing 42 possessions in the same game. The rest of his season was comparatively quiet; however, his total of 51 goals from 19 games was an impressive figure given the increased time he spent in the midfield. By [[1974 VFL season|1974]], Matthews had become one of the toughest and most damaging players in the game. Strong, quick and almost impossible to tackle, Matthews regularly turned matches with brilliant solo efforts. Against [[Collingwood Magpies|Collingwood]] in a semi-final, Matthews proved the difference with 7 goals from 24 disposals. He went on to win his third best and fairest, averaging 21.8 disposals and kicking 52 goals for the season.<ref name="Tables" /><ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com" /><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

After six seasons in the VFL, Matthews established himself as a superstar of the competition in [[1975 VFL season|1975]], winning the [[Coleman Medal]] as the League's leading goal kicker, with 67 goals (68 including finals), while averaging 22.9 disposals per game. While 67 goals was an unusually low tally, it was a rare result for a non-full forward to lead the competition. He started the season brilliantly with 47 goals in the first 12 games, including five bags of 5 or more. His 6 goals from 28 kicks in Round 9 against [[Footscray Football Club|Footscray]] was a highlight. He was unable to maintain this pace in the second half of the season and could manage only 21 goals in his last 11 appearances. Hawthorn made the [[1975 VFL grand final|grand final]]; however, they fell to North Melbourne, with Matthews going goalless on the day.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com" /><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

Another brilliant season in [[1976 VFL season|1976]] confirmed Matthews as one of the best players in the game. He kicked more goals than most full-forwards, while also being one of the most effective ball-winners in the game. For the season, Matthews kicked 71 goals at 3.2 per game and averaged 22.5 disposals, winning his fourth best and fairest. His best game for the year came in a qualifying final against North Melbourne, when he had 31 kicks and kicked 7 goals from 13 scoring shots. It was an immense performance in a hard-fought win. Hawthorn again played North in the [[1976 VFL grand final|grand final]], and although Matthews was not amongst the best this time, his second premiership medal was just reward for a brilliant season.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com" /><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

In the [[1977 VFL season|1977 season]], Matthews went from being from one of the best players in the league to one of the best of all time, with what was among the greatest individual seasons by any player in history. Matthews posted career highs in kicks, marks, handballs and goals, averaging 27.1 disposals per game and kicking 91 goals at 3.8 per game. He had 41 disposals in Round 10 against Melbourne, but the peak of Matthews' form came during the last eight games of the home-and-away season, during which he averaged 29.8 disposals and 5.1 goals. He kicked 7 goals and had 30-plus disposals three times in seven weeks and finished the season with another 30 disposals and 6 goals against Essendon in Round 22. He won Hawthorn's best and fairest for the fifth time. Matthews' 91 goals that year was a record for goals kicked by a non-full-forward until it was broken in 1990 by Collingwood's [[Peter Daicos]] (whom Matthews was then coaching).<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com" /><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

Matthews' performances in [[1978 VFL season|1978]] further confirmed his status as the game's number-one player, as he added another 71 goals to his career tally and averaged 25.5 disposals and a career-high 6.4 marks in a year that saw him win his sixth best and fairest and his third premiership medallion. The Hawks again played North Melbourne in the [[1978 VFL grand final|1978 VFL Grand Final]], but this time a best-afield display of 28 disposals and 4 goals by Matthews ensured the win for Hawthorn.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com" /><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

Matthews was on track for another stellar season in [[1979 VFL season|1979]] before injury forced him out of all but two of the last 10 games of the year. A 7-goal performance against [[Richmond Tigers|Richmond]] in Round 5 was a highlight in a season that saw him spend less time in front of goals and more in the midfield.<ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

===1980s===
In 1980, Matthews became the captain of Hawthorn, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. He was also selected as captain of the [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football|Victorian State of Origin team]] for the only time in his career, and he won his seventh club [[Peter Crimmins Trophy|best and fairest]]. This year, Matthews spent less time in the forward line, and while it was the first time since 1971 that he averaged fewer than two goals per game, his 26.9 disposals per game was the second-highest in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/1980s.html#seas|title=1980 Stats – Season Records|website=AFL Tables}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/leigh-matthews/|title=Leigh Matthews AM|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com"/>

Hawthorn opened the [[1981 VFL season|1981 season]] against Melbourne in Round 1 and Matthews, under a slight injury cloud, lined up at full-forward to great effect. In a dominating performance, he took 10 marks and kicked 11 goals. Matthews missed five games between Rounds 3 and 8 before returning to his customary role, alternating between the forward line and midfield for the rest of the season. He maintained impressive form for most of the year, averaging 23.5 disposals and 3 goals in his 16 games. Matthews finished the season as Hawthorn's leading goal kicker and would continue this feat for the next four consecutive years.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

After three seasons interrupted by injury and inconsistent form, Matthews returned to his best in [[1982 VFL season|1982]], winning the inaugural Players' Association Most Valuable Player award (which was later renamed, in Matthews' honour, to the [[Leigh Matthews Trophy]]). He kicked 7 goals in Round 16 against North Melbourne and two weeks later against Collingwood kicked 8 more and had 25 disposals. Matthews averaged 22.5 disposals and 3.4 goals per game for the year and won his eighth Hawthorn best and fairest award.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

Matthews earned the nickname "Lethal" for his reputation for giving (and taking) very hard bumps, and in 1982 this reputation was enhanced to the point of legend when he famously collided with a behind post at [[Windy Hill, Essendon|Windy Hill]] and broke it.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-radio/lethal-leigh-matthews-makes-every-post-a-winner-in-legends-remake/story-e6frf9ho-1226119989477 |title=Lethal Leigh Matthews makes every post a winner in 'legends' remake |first=Jessica |last=Craven |work=Herald Sun|date=23 August 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> A piece of the post (measuring about one metre) broke off, hitting the boundary umpire, after Matthews ran into its base. It is believed that, to comply with a VFL directive, groundsmen at Windy Hill had glued an extension to the top of the post which broke loose after Matthews collided with it. At the time, commentator [[Lou Richards]] called him a "[[He-Man]]" due to his large size and strength.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

Going into his fifteenth season in the VFL, Matthews showed no signs of slowing down in 1983. He averaged 22.3 disposals and 2.9 goals in his first twelve games before, in Round 15, he made the move to full-forward and remained there for the rest of the season. He went on to kick at least three goals in each of the last 10 games of the year, including the [[1983 VFL grand final|grand final]], in which he kicked 6 goals and 5 behinds in his fourth premiership win. For the season, he averaged 20.1 disposals and 3.6 goals per game.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

{{Cquote|The two best Hawthorn players I've ever coached? There are two, and I wouldn't separate them. They were [[Graham Arthur]] and Leigh Matthews.|30px
| 4 = [[John Kennedy Sr. (footballer)|John Kennedy Sr.]]<ref>{{Cite book| last=Gordon| first=Harry| title=The Hard Way| year=1990| page=194| publisher=Lester-Townsend Publishing Pty Ltd| isbn=0-949853-42-9}}</ref><ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="sahof.org.au" />
}}

===Retirement===
The [[1985 VFL season|1985 season]] was Matthews' last as a player. During a wild game versus {{AFL Gee}} which was marred by numerous brawls and reports, Matthews struck his opponent [[Neville Bruns]] in an off-the-ball incident, breaking Bruns' jaw. Geelong's [[Steve Hocking]] exacted swift retribution, breaking Matthews' nose, and an all-in [[melee]] ensued. No report was laid by umpires against Matthews. However, the 'behind play' incident had been captured on camera. After much public outcry, the VFL launched an investigation and subsequently deregistered Matthews for four weeks. He was also charged with [[assault]] and fined $1,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/15/1031608345061.html|title=Memories are made of this|last1=Connolly|first1=Rohan|last2=Hanlon|first2=Peter|date=15 September 2002|newspaper=The Age}}</ref> His conviction was later overturned on appeal. The charge remains the only time a top-level player has been charged for an on-field incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-17/broken-jaw-on-footy-field-lands-in-court/11499334|title=Parolee sentenced over jaw-breaking punch, but will the decision echo outside country footy?|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|last1=Miles|first1=Daniel|date=17 January 2020|via=ABC South West Victoria}}</ref>

Matthews' 332nd and final game was the [[1985 VFL Grand Final|1985 grand final]] loss to Essendon.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" />

Upon retirement, Matthews had scored 915 goals, which remains the highest VFL/AFL tally by a non-full-forward. At the time of his retirement, it was the fourth-highest tally by any player; he is now ninth in the all-time list. Matthews also accrued 202 [[Brownlow Medal]] votes in his career, currently the tenth-most of all time. His tally is the third most by a player who has not won the award, behind Scott Pendlebury and Joel Selwood.<ref name="Leigh Matthews" /><ref name="australianfootball.com"/><ref name="sahof.org.au" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFL Tables - Brownlow Medal Career Totals |url=https://afltables.com/afl/brownlow/totals0.html |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=afltables.com}}</ref>

==Coaching career==

===Collingwood===
Following his retirement, Matthews turned to coaching, becoming assistant coach at the [[Collingwood Football Club]] before taking over the head coaching role as senior coach from [[Bob Rose (footballer)|Bob Rose]] after three rounds in 1986. Matthews guided Collingwood to finish sixth at the end of the [[1986 VFL season|1986 season]], just missing out on the finals with twelve wins and ten losses.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/the-coaches-leigh-matthews/|title=The coaches: Leigh Matthews|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="sahof.org.au" /> In the [[1987 VFL season|1987 season]], Collingwood under Matthews did not fare much better, where they finished twelfth at the end of the season with seven wins and fifteen losses.<ref name="auto2"/>

In the [[1988 VFL season|1988 season]], Matthews guided Collingwood to finish second on the ladder, but they were eliminated by [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] in the semi-final.<ref name="auto2" /> The following year, Matthews guided Collingwood to finish fifth on the ladder, but they were again knocked out by [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]], this time in the elimination final.<ref name="auto2" /> [[1990 AFL Grand Final|In the 1990 grand final]], the first under the new AFL banner, Collingwood defeated [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]], ending its 32-year premiership drought generally referred to as "the [[Colliwobbles]]".<ref name="auto2" /><ref name="sahof.org.au" />

In the [[1991 AFL season|1991 season]], Collingwood under Matthews just missed out on the finals, where they finished seventh on the ladder.<ref name="auto2" /> The next season, Matthews guided Collingwood to finish third on the ladder, but they were eliminated by [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] in the elimination final.<ref name="auto2" /> In 1993, Collingwood under Matthews just missed out on the finals, where they finished eighth on the ladder.<ref name="auto2" /> Matthews returned Collingwood to the finals in 1994 after they finished eighth on the ladder, but were eliminated by the eventual premiers [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]] in the qualifying final.<ref name="auto2" />

Matthews was sacked as Collingwood senior coach at the end of the [[1995 AFL season|1995 season]], following an unsuccessful year where Collingwood finished tenth on the ladder, thereby missing out on the finals.<ref name="auto2" /> After the sacking, Matthews stated, “I can see where they're coming from, so there's animosity. Sometimes you just need a change and sometimes the easiest position to change is the coaching position”.<ref name="auto2" /> Matthews was replaced by Collingwood premiership captain [[Tony Shaw (Australian rules footballer)|Tony Shaw]] as Collingwood senior coach. Matthews coached a total of 224 games in ten seasons with 125 wins, 94 losses and 5 draws for a winning percentage of fifty-five percent with the Magpies.<ref name="auto2" /> Under Matthews' guidance, Collingwood won one [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|premiership]] in 1990, Matthews' fifth premiership medallion, and for which he would later be retrospectively awarded one of his four [[Jock McHale Medal]]s.

Matthews supported the [[Melbourne Hawks|planned merger]] between {{AFL Haw}} and {{AFL Mel}} in [[1996 AFL season|1996]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheahan |first1=Mike |title=MERGE - It's time to look ahead not back |url=http://www.hawkheadquarters.com/article.aspx?articleid=206 |website=hawkheadquarters.com |publisher=Herald Sun |access-date=19 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030316115040/http://www.hawkheadquarters.com/article.aspx?articleid=206 |archive-date=16 March 2003 |date=16 September 1996}}</ref>

===Brisbane Lions===
After three years, Matthews was coaxed out of retirement by the struggling [[Brisbane Lions]], who had finished sixteenth, the last on the ladder for the 1998 [[wooden spoon (award)|wooden spoon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/c3a15545-5fbc-453a-bfd7-d8a62cd21106/downloads/1cvdrco0b_244083.pdf?ver=1563704898261|title=ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL CLUBS|access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref> Matthews became the senior coach of Brisbane for the [[1999 AFL season|1999 season]], when he replaced caretaker senior coach [[Roger Merrett]], who replaced [[John Northey]] after Northey was sacked in the middle of the 1998 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/inside-the-building-of-a-football-dynasty-how-the-brisbane-lions-landed-leigh-matthews-and-became-an-afl-powerhouse/news-story/b0f2c5792732533498039170a4e264da|title=Inside the building of a football dynasty: How the Brisbane Lions landed Leigh Matthews and became an AFL powerhouse|date=16 September 2021|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/c3a15545-5fbc-453a-bfd7-d8a62cd21106/downloads/1cvdrco0b_244083.pdf?ver=1563704898261|title=ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL CLUBS|access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref> Matthews' impact at the Lions was immediate, lifting the team from bottom to third on the ladder in [[1999 AFL season|1999]] and making the finals, but they were eliminated by eventual premiers the [[North Melbourne Football Club|Kangaroos]] in the preliminary final. The Lions made the finals again in [[2000 AFL season|2000]], before being eliminated by [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] in the semi-final by 82 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/152659/leigh-matthews|title=Leigh Matthews|date=27 November 2019|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/>

In [[2001 AFL season|2001]], Matthews famously used the [[Predator (film)|''Predator'']] quote, "if it bleeds, we can kill it", to inspire his team for its Round 10 game against [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]], who sat atop the ladder, was the defending premier, and had lost only two of its previous 34 games. Brisbane finished as 28-point victors. Throughout the remainder of the season, the Lions were undefeated, eventually meeting and once again defeating Essendon in the [[2001 AFL Grand Final|2001 grand final]] for their sixteenth consecutive win, and their [[List of Australian Football League premiers|first AFL premiership]] in club history. This would be the first of three consecutive premierships for the Lions under Matthews, including [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] in both the [[2002 AFL Grand Final|2002 grand final]] and the [[2003 AFL Grand Final|2003 grand final]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/48908/coaches-throughout-history|title=Coaches throughout history|date=18 September 2013|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="sahof.org.au" /> These wins gave Matthews a total of eight premiership medallions as a player or coach.<ref name="sahof.org.au" /> His tenure crested at this point.<ref name="auto" /> A bid for a fourth consecutive premiership was brought undone by [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] in the [[2004 AFL Grand Final|2004 grand final]], when the Lions lost by 40 points.

In the [[2005 AFL season|2005 season]], the Lions finished eleventh on the ladder with ten wins and twelve losses, missing the finals for the first time under Matthews. During the year, after his mother died, Matthews took a leave of absence for one game, which was coached by assistant coach [[John Blakey]]. Blakey filled in as caretaker coach in the absence of Matthews for the Round 18 game against the [[Western Bulldogs]], which the Lions lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/48908/coaches-throughout-history|title=Coaches throughout history|date=18 September 2013|access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref> In the [[2006 AFL season|2006 season]], the Lions did not fare much better, when their form dropped further as they finished thirteenth (third-last) on the ladder with seven wins and fifteen losses. In the [[2007 AFL season|2007 season]], the Lions under Matthews finished tenth on the ladder with nine wins, two draws and eleven losses. That year, Matthews coached his 200th game with the club, making him the first person to play or coach 200 games with three clubs. In the [[2008 AFL season|2008 season]], the Lions finished tenth on the ladder again for the second straight year in a row, this time with ten wins and twelve losses.

Matthews resigned from his position as Brisbane Lions senior coach on 1 September 2008, at the end of the 2008 season, stating that he "felt the time was right".<ref>{{Cite news| last=Morton| first=Jim| title=Leigh Matthews quits as Lions coach| newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald| date=1 September 2008| url=http://news.smh.com.au/sport/leigh-matthews-quits-as-lions-coach-20080901-46m5.html| access-date=28 June 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904102101/http://news.smh.com.au/sport/leigh-matthews-quits-as-lions-coach-20080901-46m5.html| archive-date=4 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| last=Morton| first=Jim| title=Lethal leaves Lions| publisher=FOXSports| date=1 September 2008| url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24273690-23211,00.html| access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| last=Broad| first=Ben| title=End of era at the Lions| publisher=Australian Football League (AFL)| date=1 September 2008| url=http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66743| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616081442/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66743|archive-date=16 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-09-01/matthews-walks-away-from-lions/495500|title=Matthews walks away from Lions|newspaper=ABC News |date=1 September 2008|access-date=November 24, 2021}}</ref> Matthews was then replaced by [[Michael Voss]] as Brisbane Lions senior coach.

Matthews coached Brisbane Lions to a total of 237 games with 142 wins, 92 losses and 3 draws with a winning percentage of 60 percent. Matthews' coaching style at the Lions was reportedly incredibly strict, although obviously successful. Despite his four premierships as a coach, Matthews never coached a team to the [[minor premiership]]—though he did finish second with Collingwood twice and second with Brisbane three times.

Matthews was selected to present the premiership cup to the Lions after their victory in the [[2024 AFL Grand Final]], their first premiership since Matthews' three-peat.

==Statistics==

===Playing statistics===
{{Australian rules football statistics legend (pre-1987)|p=y|s=y}}
{{VFL player statistics start (pre-1987)}}
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row | [[1969 VFL season|1969]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 32
| 5 || 7 || 4 || 60 || 15 || 75 || 6 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 12.0 || 3.0 || 15.0 || 1.2 || 2
|-
| scope=row | [[1970 VFL season|1970]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 32
| 16 || 20 || 27 || 249 || 48 || 297 || 53 || 1.3 || 1.7 || 15.6 || 3.0 || 18.6 || 3.3 || 3
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1971 VFL season|1971]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Haw}} || 32
| 23 || 43 || 47 || 443 || 84 || 527 || 111 || 1.9 || 2.0 || 19.3 || 3.7 || 22.9 || 4.8 || 10
|-
| scope=row | [[1972 VFL season|1972]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 21 || 45 || 50 || 432 || 49 || 481 || 107 || 2.1 || 2.4 || 20.6 || 2.3 || 22.9 || 5.1 || 16
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row | [[1973 VFL season|1973]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 19 || 51 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''48'''<sup>†</sup> || 426 || 47 || 473 || 81 || 2.7 || 2.5 || 22.4 || 2.5 || 24.9 || 4.3 || 23
|-
| scope=row | [[1974 VFL season|1974]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 21 || 52 || 52 || 394 || 53 || 447 || 72 || 2.5 || 2.5 || 18.8 || 2.5 || 21.3 || 3.4 || 15
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row | [[1975 VFL season|1975]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 23 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''68'''<sup>†</sup> || 48 || 452 || 50 || 502 || 73 || 3.0|| 2.2 || 20.5 || 2.3 || 22.8 || 3.3 || 10
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1976 VFL season|1976]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 22 || 71 || 42 || 416 || 79 || 495 || 67 || 3.2 || 1.9 || 18.9 || 3.6 || 22.5 || 3.0 || 23
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row | [[1977 VFL season|1977]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 24 || 91 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''57'''<sup>†</sup> || 514 || 144 || 658 || 133 || 3.8 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''2.6'''<sup>†</sup> || 21.4 || 6.0 || 27.4 || 5.5 || 34
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1978 VFL season|1978]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 23 || 71 || 58 || 463 || 123 || 586 || 147 || 3.1 || 2.5 || 20.1 || 5.3 || 25.5 || 6.4 || 3
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row | [[1979 VFL season|1979]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 13 || 30 || 25 || 237 || 100 || 337 || 55 || 2.3 || 1.9 || 18.2 || 7.7 || 25.9 || 4.2 || 6
|-
| scope=row | [[1980 VFL season|1980]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 17 || 32 || 34 || 364 || 93 || 457 || 78 || 1.9 || 2.0 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''21.4'''<sup>†</sup> || 5.5 || 26.9 || 4.6 || 16
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row | [[1981 VFL season|1981]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 16 || 48 || 36 || 292 || 84 || 376 || 98 || 3.0 || 2.3 || 18.3 || 5.3 || 23.5 || 6.1 || 11
|-
| scope=row | [[1982 VFL season|1982]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 22 || 74 || 55 || 383 || 111 || 494 || 109 || 3.4 || 2.5 || 17.4 || 5.0 || 22.5 || 5.0 || 17
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1983 VFL season|1983]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 22 || 79 || 51 || 364 || 78 || 442 || 127 || 3.6 || 2.3 || 16.5 || 3.5 || 20.1 || 5.8 || 5
|-
| scope=row | [[1984 VFL season|1984]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 24 || 77 || 52 || 318 || 127 || 445 || 111 || 3.2 || 2.2 || 13.3 || 5.3 || 18.5 || 4.6 || 4
|- style=background:#EAEAEA
| scope=row | [[1985 VFL season|1985]] || {{AFL Haw}} || 3
| 21 || 56 || 36 || 210 || 72 || 282 || 77 || 2.7 || 1.7 || 10.0 || 3.4 || 13.4 || 3.7 || 4
|- class=sortbottom
! colspan=3 | Career<ref name=Tables>{{cite web|title=Leigh Matthews (playing statistics)|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/L/Leigh_Matthews.html|work=AFL Tables|access-date=19 June 2020}}</ref>
! 332 !! 915 !! 722 !! 6017 !! 1357 !! 7374 !! 1505 !! 2.8 !! 2.2 !! 18.2 !! 4.1 !! 22.3 !! 4.5 !! 202
|}

==Head coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Home and Away Season !! colspan="5"|Finals
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Drew!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Drew !!Win % !! Result
|-
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1986 VFL season|1986]]
||12||7||0||{{winperc|12|7}}||6th out of 12||—||—||—||—||—
|-
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1987 VFL season|1987]]
||7||15||0||{{winperc|7|15}}||12th out of 14||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1988 VFL season|1988]]
||15||6||1||{{winperc|15|6|1}}||'''2nd out of 14'''||0||2||0||.000|| <small>'''Lost to [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] in [[1988 VFL season|Semi Final]]'''</small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1989 VFL season|1989]]
||13||9||0||{{winperc|13|9}}||'''5th out of 14'''||0||1||0||.000||<small>'''Lost to [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] in [[1989 VFL season|Elimination Final]]'''</small>
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1990 AFL season|1990]]
||16||6||0||{{winperc|16|6}}||'''2nd out of 15'''||3||0||1||{{winperc|3|0|1}}||<small>'''Defeated [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] in [[1990 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''</small>
|-
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1991 AFL season|1991]]
||12||9||1||{{winperc|12|9|1}}||7th out of 15||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1992 AFL season|1992]]
||16||6||0||{{winperc|16|6}}||'''3rd out of 15'''||0||1||0||.000||<small>'''Lost to [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] in [[1992 AFL finals series|Elimination Final]]'''</small>
|-
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1993 AFL season|1993]]
||11||9||0||{{winperc|11|9}}||8th out of 15||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1994 AFL season|1994]]
||12||10||0||{{winperc|12|10}}||'''8th out of 15'''||0||1||0||.000||<small>'''Lost to [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]] in [[1994 AFL season|Elimination Final]]'''</small>
|-
![[Collingwood Football Club|COLL]]||[[1995 AFL season|1995]]
||8||12||2||{{winperc|8|12|2}}||10th out of 16||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-
! colspan="2"|COLL total||122||89||4||{{winperc|122|89|4}}|| ||3||5||1||{{winperc|3|5|1}}|| 
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[1999 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[1999 AFL season|1999]]
||16||6||0||{{winperc|16|6}}||'''3rd out of 16'''||2||1||0||.667||<small>'''Lost to [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] in [[1999 AFL finals series|Preliminary Final]]'''</small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2000 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2000 AFL season|2000]]
||12||10||0||{{winperc|12|10}}||'''6th out of 16'''||1||1||0||.599||<small>'''Lost to [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] in [[2000 AFL finals series|Semi Final]]'''</small>
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[2001 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2001 AFL season|2001]]
||17||5||0||{{winperc|17|5}}||'''2nd out of 16'''||3||0||0||1.000||<small>'''Defeated [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] in [[2001 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''</small>
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[2002 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2002 AFL season|2002]]
||17||5||0||{{winperc|17|5}}||'''2nd out of 16'''||3||0||0||1.000||<small>'''Defeated [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] in [[2002 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''</small>
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[2003 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2003 AFL season|2003]]
||14||7||1||{{winperc|14|7|1}}||'''3rd out of 16'''||3||1||0||{{winperc|3|1}}||<small>'''Defeated [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] in [[2003 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''</small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2004 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2004 AFL season|2004]]
||16||6||0||{{winperc|16|6}}||'''2nd out of 16'''||1||1||0||.599||<small>'''Lost to [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] in [[2004 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''</small>
|-
![[2005 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2005 AFL season|2005]]
||10||11||0||{{winperc|10|11}}||11th out of 16||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-
![[2006 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2006 AFL season|2006]]
||7||15||1||{{winperc|7|15|1}}||13th out of 16||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-
![[2007 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2007 AFL season|2007]]
||9||11||2||{{winperc|9|11|2}}||10th out of 16||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-
![[2008 Brisbane Lions season|BRI]]||[[2008 AFL season|2008]]
||10||12||0||{{winperc|10|12}}||10th out of 16||—||—||—||—||—|—
|-
! colspan="2"|BRI total||128||88||3||{{winperc|128|88|3}}|| ||14||4||0||{{winperc|14|4}}|| 
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/Leigh_Matthews.html]||250||177||7||{{winperc|250|177|7}}|| ||17||9||1||{{winperc|17|9|1}}||
|-
|}

==Honours and achievements==
===Playing honours===
'''Team'''
* '''4× [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|VFL premiership player]] ({{AFL Haw}})''': [[1971 VFL Grand Final|1971]], [[1976 VFL Grand Final|1976]], [[1978 VFL Grand Final|1978]], [[1983 VFL Grand Final|1983]]
* '''2× [[List of VFL/AFL minor premiers|Minor premiership]] ({{AFL Haw}})''': [[1971 VFL season|1971]], [[1975 VFL season|1975]]
* '''2× [[List of Australian Football League pre-season and night series premiers|Night Series Winner]] ({{AFL Haw}})''': 1969, 1977

'''Individual'''
* '''[[Leigh Matthews Trophy|VFLPA MVP Award (Later named the Leigh Matthews Trophy)]]''': 1982
* '''[[Coleman Medal]]''': 1975
* '''[[All-Australian team]]''': 1972
* '''[[List of Hawthorn Football Club captains|Hawthorn Captain]]''': 1981–1985
* '''8× [[Peter Crimmins Medal]]''': 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982
* '''6× [[List of Hawthorn Football Club leading goalkickers|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'''
* '''[[List of VFL/AFL premiership captains and coaches|AFL Premiership coach]] ({{AFL Col}})''': [[1990 AFL Grand Final|1990]]
* '''3× [[List of VFL/AFL premiership captains and coaches|AFL Premiership coach]] ({{AFL BL}})''': [[2001 AFL Grand Final|2001]], [[2002 AFL Grand Final|2002]], [[2003 AFL Grand Final|2003]]

'''Individual'''
* '''4× Jock McHale Medal''': [[1990 AFL Grand Final|1990]], [[2001 AFL Grand Final|2001]], [[2002 AFL Grand Final|2002]], [[2003 AFL Grand Final|2003]]
* '''3× [[All-Australian team]]''': 2001, 2002, 2003
* '''[[Brisbane Lions]] Team of the Decade (1997–2006)'''

=== Hall of Fame/Life membership ===
* '''[[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] – Legend Status'''
* '''[[Hawthorn Football Club]] Hall of Fame – Legend Status'''
* '''[[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] Hall of Fame (1990 premiership team)'''
* '''[[Brisbane Lions]] Hall of Fame'''
* '''Queensland Hall of Fame – Legend status'''
* '''[[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] life member'''
* '''[[Brisbane Lions]] life member'''

==Post-career honours==
Matthews was named "Player of the Century" and inducted as an inaugural official Legend of the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]], the highest individual honour that can be bestowed upon a football personality. He was also named in both the AFL and Hawthorn teams of the century, in the forward pocket for the AFL and as rover for Hawthorn. In 2002, the AFLPA MVP award, of which Matthews was the inaugural recipient, was renamed the [[Leigh Matthews Trophy]].

Matthews is one of only four Australian rules footballers recognised as a Legend of Australian Sport in the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]], alongside [[Ron Barassi]], [[Ted Whitten]] and [[Bob Skilton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/legends-of-australian-sport/|title=Legends of Australian Sport|access-date=27 September 2020|publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame}}</ref>

== Outside football ==

Before coaching the Brisbane Lions, Leigh Matthews made several media appearances as guest commentator. He since returned to perform special commentary of AFL matches on the [[Seven Network]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/seven-chases-taylor-but-ten-exits-broadcasts-20110623-1ghh8.html |title=Seven chases Taylor but Ten exits broadcasts |first=Jon |last=Pierik |work=The Age|date=24 June 2011|access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> Matthews commentated throughout the [[2008 AFL finals series|2008 finals series]] as well as in the [[2008 AFL Grand Final|2008 grand Final]]. He is also a commentator of the game for [[3AW]] and a feature writer and commentator for the ''[[Herald Sun]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=20 December 2010 |title=Leigh Matthews 3AW |url=http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-footy-team-blog/leigh-matthews/20101220-192su.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401201917/http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-footy-team-blog/leigh-matthews/20101220-192su.html |archive-date=1 April 2012 |access-date=31 March 2012 |work=3AW}}</ref> He moved to Channel Nine in 2024 before leaving at the end of that year<ref>{{cite web |title=Channel 9’s fresh blow as AFL great joins footy exodus |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/channel-9s-fresh-blow-as-afl-great-joins-evergrowing-footy-exodus/news-story/997c77a00391c79e608d1bf974587763 |website=news}}</ref> to move to Fox Footy in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFL Hall of Fame Legend Leigh Matthews to join Fox Footy team for prime time blockbuster |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2025-leigh-matthews-to-commentate-first-game-on-fox-footy-brisbane-lions-vs-collingwood-magpies-on-the-couch-member-afl-hall-of-fame-legend-latest-news/news-story/82b1762804d4fe81a9e7e93631507354 |website=Fox Sports |access-date=24 December 2025 |language=en |date=16 April 2025}}</ref>

{{Portal|Sports|Australia}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|first1=Russell|last1=Holmesby|first2=Jim|last2=Main|title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: Every AFL/VFL Player Since 1987|edition=9th|publisher=Bas Publishing|year=2011}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{AFL Tables|ref=L/Leigh_Matthews.html}}

{{navboxes|list1=
{{1971 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{1976 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{1978 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{1983 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{1990 Collingwood premiership players}}
{{2001/02/03 Brisbane Lions triple premiership players}}
{{Hawthorn Football Club captains}}
{{Collingwood Football Club coaches}}
{{Brisbane Lions coaches}}
{{Jock McHale Medal}}
{{Leigh Matthews Trophy}}
{{AFL Coleman Medallists}}
{{1972 All-Australian team}}
{{1982 VFL Team of the Year}}
{{1983 VFL Team of the Year}}
{{1990 AFL Team of the Year}}
{{2001 All-Australian team}}
{{2002 All-Australian team}}
{{2003 All-Australian team}}
{{Peter Crimmins Medal}}
{{VFL/AFL club best and fairest winners in premiership years}}
{{Hawthorn leading goalkickers}}
{{Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year}}
{{1998 Australian international rules team}}
{{Australia international rules football team coaches}}
{{1997 Victoria State of Origin players}}
{{1998 Victoria State of Origin players}}
{{Victoria State of Origin coaches}}
{{Australian Football Hall of Fame Legends}}
{{Hawthorn Football Club Hall of Fame Legends}}
{{AFL Team of the Century}}
{{Hawthorn Team of The Century}}
{{Brisbane Lions Team of the Decade}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Leigh}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:All-Australians (1953–1988)]]
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[[Category:Collingwood Football Club coaches]]
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[[Category:Coleman Medal winners]]
[[Category:Hawthorn Football Club players|Matthew, Leigh]]
[[Category:Hawthorn Football Club premiership players]]
[[Category:Peter Crimmins Medal winners]]
[[Category:Leigh Matthews Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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