Fred Leach
Collingwood
AFL career
85 games8 goals
- Debut
- R7 1897 v CAR22 June 1897
- Most recent
- R9 1903 v SME20 June 1903
Stats
Bio
Recruited from the Boroondara juniors following an impressive display for a combined junior side, Fred Leach established himself as a polished centreman for Collingwood during the VFL's foundation years. One of three brothers to represent the Magpies alongside Arthur and Ted, he was renowned as a scrupulously fair but physically robust player whose career was occasionally interrupted by illness. His greatest contribution to the club came during the 1902 Grand Final, where he was unexpectedly swung to centre half-back to mind Essendon champion Albert Thurgood; Leach successfully blanketed the league's leading goalkicker, playing a pivotal role in securing Collingwood’s first VFL premiership. He retired at just 25 citing the physical toll of the game and tragically died of typhoid fever only a few years later.
Profile
- Born
- 06 Mar 1878
- Died
- 14 Apr 1908 (aged 30y 39d)
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 83 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from the Boroondara juniors following an impressive display for a combined junior side, Fred Leach established himself as a polished centreman for Collingwood during the VFL's foundation years. One of three brothers to represent the Magpies alongside Arthur and Ted, he was renowned as a scrupulously fair but physically robust player whose career was occasionally interrupted by illness. His greatest contribution to the club came during the 1902 Grand Final, where he was unexpectedly swung to centre half-back to mind Essendon champion Albert Thurgood; Leach successfully blanketed the league's leading goalkicker, playing a pivotal role in securing Collingwood’s first VFL premiership. He retired at just 25 citing the physical toll of the game and tragically died of typhoid fever only a few years later.