Leigh R. Matthews (born March 1, 1952) is widely regarded as one of the greatest Australian Rules footballers of all time, playing for Hawthorn in the VFL from 1969 to 1985. Since retiring as a player in 1985, Matthews has had a successful coaching career, first with Collingwood, then the Brisbane Lions. He has coached the Lions to three consecutive premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003 as well as to a Grand Final in 2004. March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Australian Rules and Aussie Rules redirect here. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... See also Australian Football League. ... The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies after the black and white striped guernseys worn by the players, is an Australian rules football club, playing in the elite Australian Football League. ... The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) are an Australian Football League club, formed from the post-1996 merger of the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy, the Lions. ... The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) are an Australian Football League club, formed from the post-1996 merger of the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy, the Lions. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The AFL Grand Final is the annual Australian Rules Football match held to determine the Australian Football League premiers for that year. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Playing career

Matthews played 332 games for Hawthorn, kicking 915 goals - a record for goals kicked by a non-full forward. In 1975 he won the John Coleman Medal by kicking 68 goals and was Hawthorn's leading goal kicker for 1973-1975 and 1981-1984. He won a club record eight Best and Fairest awards in 1971-1972, 1974, 1976-1978, 1980 and 1982. He represented Victoria 14 times from 1971 to 1982, captained his state against Western Australia in 1980 and played in seven grand finals (four of which the Hawks won). The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Full-forward is a position in Australian Rules Football with a key focus on kicking goals. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... Emblems: Pink heath (floral) helmeted honeyeater (bird) Leadbeaters possum (faunal) Motto: Peace and Prosperity Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place To Be, On The Move Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Governor Premier Const. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Emblems: Floral - Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii); Mammal - Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus); Bird - Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Const. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

Lou Richards gave Matthews the nickname 'Lethal' Leigh (a name change from Barney after Barney Rubble from The Flintstones). According to Matthews, his target was always the ball, but players who got in his way found out why they called him 'Lethal'. He was part of a footballing family, and his brother Kelvin (built on similar lines) played 155 games at Hawthorn and Geelong and made the state team. Leigh came to Hawthorn from Chelsea at the age of 16, having already played a senior season in suburban football. Lou Richards (born March 15, 1923) was an Australian rules footballer, who played 250 games with the Collingwood Football Club between 1941 and 1955. ... Barney Rubble. ... The Flintstones, an American animated television series created by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, is one of the most successful animated television series of all time, originally running in American prime time for six seasons, from 1960 to 1966, on the ABC network. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... - - Nickname: City by the Bay Geography Area: 1,240 km² Coordinates: Time Zone UTC +10:00 Population (2003) 200,067 Among Australian cities: Density: persons/km² Political Mayor: Shane Dowling Governing body: City of Greater Geelong Geelong is a port city of 200,067 people (2003 census) located on Corio... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Chelsea is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

Early career

In 1969 Matthews played only five matches and kicked 7 goals in his rookie season. Hawthorn ended up finishing fifth on the ladder with 13 wins and seven loses. 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

In the 1970 season Matthews played 16 games and kicked 20 goals. Hawthorn ended up finishing eighth for the season with ten wins and twelve losses, and the third best percentage for the year with 114. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

In the 1971 season Matthews won his first of eight Hawthorn Best and Fairest awards after he played 23 matches and kicked 43 goals. Hawthorn won the minor premiership that year with nineteen wins and only three loses, and went on to defeat St. Kilda in the Grand Final, with Matthews kicking a crucial goal in Hawthorn's seven point win. This year was his first representing Victoria. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player(s) from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... This article is about the Scottish island of Saint Kilda. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Emblems: Pink heath (floral) helmeted honeyeater (bird) Leadbeaters possum (faunal) Motto: Peace and Prosperity Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place To Be, On The Move Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Governor Premier Const. ...

In the 1972 season Matthews once again won Hawthorn's Best and Fairest after 21 games and kicking 45 goals but Hawthorn they finished sixth on the ladder with thirteen wins and nine loses. This would be the same year that Michael Tuck would play his first out of four hundred and twenty six games for Hawthorn. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Michael Tuck (born June 24, 1953) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL with the Hawthorn Football Club. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

In the 1973 season Matthews won Hawthorn's Leading Goal Kicker for first time in his career by kicking 51 goals in 19 games. In that season Matthews played what many regard as the greatest game ever played and at quarter time of that game, Leigh Matthews had only one goal, and the Hawks had a lead of only seven points over Essendon. These statistics gave little warning of the incredible 11 goals that 'Lethal' Leigh would kick by game's end - a record for a rover - in the Hawks' 27.8 (170) to 15.12 (102) win. Matthews also ended up with 38 kicks for the game. Not so fortunate was Leigh's brother Kelvin who, while following his victorious brother into the players' race, forgot to duck and knocked himself unconscious on the race's concrete roof. Unfortunately Matthew's outstanding performance wasn't enough to get Hawthorn to the finals - they finished seventh on the ladder with eleven wins and eleven loses. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

In the 1974 season Leigh Matthews won his third Hawthorn Best and Fairest in four seasons and played 21 games for the season, kicking 52 goals. Hawthorn finished third on the ladder with fifteen wins and seven loses - they made the preliminary final but lost to North Melbourne by five points. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... North Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria. ...

Mid-70s

In the 1975 season Leigh Matthews was not only Hawthorn's leading goal kicker but won the John Coleman Medal as the leading goal kicker in the league with 68 goals in 23 games. Hawthorn won the minor premiership with seventeen wins and five losses; they made the Grand Final but they lost by fifty points to North Melbourne who won the club's first ever premiership. This was, at the time, the biggest winning margin in a Grand Final since Melbourne's 61-point victory over Essendon in the 1957 Grand Final. This was also Peter Crimmens' last season. 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... North Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria. ... Melbourne is the state capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-largest city in Australia, with a population of approximately 3. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In the 1976 season Leigh Matthews kicked 71 in goals in 22 games to win Hawthorn's Best and Fairest for the fourth time in his career. Hawthorn finished the season second on the ladder with sixteen wins and six loses and would make the Grand Final, again playing North Melbourne. This time, however, Hawthorn won by thirty points with Leigh Matthews kicking four goals (from twenty four kicks total). Future Brownlow Medallist Robert DiPierdomenico was the only player better than Matthews on the day. 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1976 calendar). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... North Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is an annual medal awarded to the fairest and best player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie. ... Robert Dipper DiPierdomenico (born May 5, 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer of Italian descent. ...

In the 1977 season Leigh Matthews kicked the most goals in a season by a non-full forward with 91 goals in 24 games. This record stood for twenty three years, broken in 1990 by Peter Daicos of Collingwood, with 97 goals (Coincidentally, coached by Matthews). Hawthorn finished second on the ladder with seventeen wins and five losses but were beaten by North Melbourne in the preliminary final. Matthews would win Hawthorn's Best and Fairest for the fifth time in his career. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Full-forward is a position in Australian Rules Football with a key focus on kicking goals. ... The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies after the black and white striped guernseys worn by the players, is an Australian rules football club, playing in the elite Australian Football League. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... North Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ...

Late 70s/Early 80s

In the 1978 season Matthews won his sixth career Hawthorn Best and Fairest (third in a row) after he kicked 71 goals in 23 games. Hawthorn finished second on the ladder with sixteen wins and six losses and Hawthorn once again played North Melbourne in the Grand Final and won by 18 points, making it Matthews' third premiership side. 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... North Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria. ...

In the 1979 season Matthews only played 13 games but kicked 30 goals. Hawthorn again failed to follow up on the previous season's premiersip win and finished seventh on the ladder with ten wins and twelve loses - their worst since the 1973 season. This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

In the 1980 season Matthews again won Hawthorn's Best and Fairest - his fourth in five seasons, and seventh overall - after he kicked 32 goals in 17 games. This would be Matthews last season as a non-leadership player as he took over as captain the following year. Hawthorn finished eighth on the ladder with ten wins and twelve loses. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

In the 1981 season Matthews was Hawthorn's leading goal kicker with 48 goals in 16 games and this would be the first of four consecutive Hawthorn leading goal kicking seasons. He was named team captain and would retain this position for the rest of his playing career. Under Matthew's guidance, Hawthorn lifted two positions, finishing sixth on the ladder with thirteen wins and nine losses. Hawthorn missed out on the finals but they would make the finals a record thirteen times. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

Late career

In the 1982 season Matthews won his eighth overall Hawthorn Best and Fairest and was Hawthorn's leading goal kicker with 74 goals, and was the inaugural winner of the VFL Players Association Most Valuable Player award, which would be renamed the Leigh Matthews Trophy in his honour in 2002. Hawthorn finished second on the ladder with seventeen wins and five loses, making it to the preliminary final but losing by 31 points to Carlton. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... The AFL Players Association is a body that consists of players and former players in the Australian Football League. ... The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... Carlton is the name of many places: Carlton, Bedfordshire is a small village in the county of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. ...

In the 1983 season Matthews was the Hawks' leading goal kicker with 79 goals. Hawthorn finished second on the ladder with fifteen wins and seven loses and made the Grand Final, Matthews kicking 6 goals in Hawthorn's 83 points win over Essendon. This would be Matthews' last appearance in a premiership side. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In the 1984 season Matthews kicked 77 goals, making him Hawthorn's leading goal kicker for the fourth consecutive season (eight total). Hawthorn finished second on the ladder with seventeen wins and five loses. They were able to make the Grand Final, again playing Essendon. Hawthorn led for the first three quarters, but Essendon won by twenty four points after scoring nine goals in the last quarter. 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Retirement

The 1985 season was Matthews' last. During the season he struck Geelong player Neville Bruns in an off-the-ball incident, breaking Bruns' jaw. As this was before the use of video evidence to report players, and the officiating umpires missed the incident, no report was laid. However, after much public outcry, the VFL launched an investigation and subsequently deregistered Matthews for four weeks. He was also charged by the police and fined $1000 - this was a major factor in his retirement. Hawthorn finished third on the ladder with fifteen wins and six losses and a draw. Hawthorn were still able to make the Grand Final, but lost by 78 points. Matthews made a tearful farewell on his teammates shoulders. This article is about the year. ... See also Australian Football League. ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ... Hawthorn is a common name for plants in two related genera in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae: Crataegus Rhaphiolepis The term Hawthorn also refers to the following places: Hawthorn, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. ...

Coaching career

Following his retirement from football in 1985 Matthews moved to coaching. His first appointment was with the Collingwood Football Club in 1986, and he took the team to victory in the 1990 Grand Final, beating Essendon by 48 points and ending a 32-year premiership drought which included Grand Final loses in 1960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1979-1981. This article is about the year. ... The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies after the black and white striped guernseys worn by the players, is an Australian rules football club, playing in the elite Australian Football League. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Brisbane Lions era

Since moving to Brisbane in 1999, Leigh Matthews has been coach for the Brisbane Lions, and has enjoyed great success. In his first year of appointment he took the team from 16th in 1998 to 4th in 1999, in one of the greatest coach turn arounds in the history of football. The club continued to do well in 2000, finishing 5th on the ladder with 13 wins and 11 losses. In round 10 of 2001 the Lions beat premiership favorites Essendon by 28 points. This was the start of a 16-game winning streak that extended to the Grand Final, a feat which had only been accomplished once, by Carlton in 1995. Matthews followed up by guiding the Lions to the 2002 and 2003 premierships, as the club became the first to "3 peat" since Norm Smith's Melbourne side of the 1950s. In 2004 the Brisbane Lions were looking to equal Collingwood's record of four consecutive premierships. They finished second on the ladder after the home and away season with sixteen wins and six losses and played Saint Kilda in the Qualifying Final. Brisbane won by 80 points and went on to play Geelong in the Preliminary Final, winning by 9 points. In the grand final, they led at half-time but were eventually beaten by Port Adelaide. Brisbane () is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) are an Australian Football League club, formed from the post-1996 merger of the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy, the Lions. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) are an Australian Football League club, formed from the post-1996 merger of the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy, the Lions. ... Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Home and away season or regular season in sports are matches played before the finals (or playoffs). ...

The Brisbane Lions side had three Brownlow Medallists in Jason Akermanis, Simon Black and Michael Voss. There were also eight All-Australians in the side: Jason Akermanis, Simon Black, Chris Johnson, Nigel Lappin, Justin Leppitsch, Alastair Lynch and Luke Power. Two Brisbane Lions players won two Brownlow Medals in their 3 Premierships - Jason Akermanis and Simon Black. Michael Voss, shared the 2002 Leigh Matthews Trophy and won it in 2003. The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is an annual medal awarded to the fairest and best player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie. ... Jason Aka Akermanis (born February 24, 1977) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Simon Black (born April 3, 1979) is an Australian Football League midfielder with a reputation for hard work and skill. ... He is too old and is shit now ... The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. ...

In 2005, Matthews was not available to coach the Round 18 game against the Western Bulldogs due to the death of his mother Lorna Matthews. John Blakey took the coaching reins in this match, which the Brisbane Lions lost, after at one stage drawing level in the final quarter. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Western Bulldogs, formerly known as the Footscray Football Club or The Bulldogs is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based at the Whitten Oval in western suburban Melbourne, Australia, drawing its supporter base from this traditionally poor, industrial, and less leafy part of Melbourne. ... John Blakey (born July 24, 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) are an Australian Football League club, formed from the post-1996 merger of the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy, the Lions. ...

Matthews' coaching style at the Lions is reportedly incredibly strict, although obviously successful.

Outside of football

Before coaching the Brisbane Lions, Leigh Matthews made several media appearances as guest commentator. His celebrity status in both Melbourne and Brisbane has seen him become the face of Devine, a residential development company based in Brisbane with projects in Melbourne & Adelaide.

Post-career awards

In the 1996 centenary year of Australian Football League, Leigh Matthews was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. Matthews was also named as "Player of the Century" along with the position of forward pocket in the VFL/AFL Team of the Century. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The Australian Football League is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ... VFL/AFL is the term used to refer to the competition established in 1897, which was originally known as the Victorian Football League. ... Team of the Century is a term used to describe the best team over a period of 100 years, or for a century (always the 20th). ...