John McLeish
Essendon
AFL career
10 games0 goals
- Debut
- R7 1949 v MEL28 May 1949
- Most recent
- R3 1950 v GEE6 May 1950
Stats
Bio
The son of former St Kilda player Maurie McLeish, John McLeish was a defender recruited from Yea who broke into the Essendon lineup during the club's formidable 1949 premiership campaign. Despite managing eight games in his debut season, he was unable to secure a place in the finals side that ultimately claimed the flag under Dick Reynolds. After adding just two senior appearances early in the 1950 season, McLeish made the decisive move to leave the VFL mid-year and return to Yea as captain-coach. The decision proved immediately vindicated, as he led the country club to the Waranga North East Football Association premiership later that same season, establishing a reputation as a successful regional leader rather than a long-term League footballer.
Profile
- Born
- 19 Dec 1926
- Died
- 10 Dec 2005 (aged 78y 356d)
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 79 kg
Teams
Family
- Father:Maurie McLeish
Bio
1 revisionThe son of former St Kilda player Maurie McLeish, John McLeish was a defender recruited from Yea who broke into the Essendon lineup during the club's formidable 1949 premiership campaign. Despite managing eight games in his debut season, he was unable to secure a place in the finals side that ultimately claimed the flag under Dick Reynolds. After adding just two senior appearances early in the 1950 season, McLeish made the decisive move to leave the VFL mid-year and return to Yea as captain-coach. The decision proved immediately vindicated, as he led the country club to the Waranga North East Football Association premiership later that same season, establishing a reputation as a successful regional leader rather than a long-term League footballer.