Matthews and the Vietnam Swans' hat
The Vietnam Swans Blog has just received the photo on the far left. It’s a photo of Leigh Matthews statue with a Vietnam Swans’ hat! Unprecedented.
The bronze statue is one of ten and forms part of the Melbourne Cricket Club’s Parade of Champions. They are located outside the MCG.
Leigh Raymond Matthews was born in 1952. From:
- 1969 – 1985, he played with Hawthorn for 332 matches and 915 goals
- 1986 – 1995, he coached Collingwood for 224 games and 125 wins
- 1999 – 2008, he coached Brisbane for 223 games and 136 wins
Matthews career highlights include:
- Australian Football Hall of Fame: Legend (1996, inaugural), Player of the Century
- AFL Team of the Century: Forward Pocket
- VFLPA MVP Award: 1982
- Award renamed in Matthews’ honour: 2002
- VFL Leading Goalkicker: 1975
- All-Australian Team: 1972
- Premierships (8)
- as player: Hawthorn 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983
- as captain: Hawthorn 1983
- as coach: Collingwood 1990; Brisbane Lions 2001-03
- Victorian Captain: 1980
- Victorian Representative: 14 occasions
- Hawthorn Team of the Century: Rover
- Hawthorn Best and Fairest (8): 1971-72, 1974, 1976-78, 1980, 1982
- Hawthorn Captain: 1981-1985
- Hawthorn Leading Goalkicker (6): 1973, 1975, 1981-84
For more details, click on Wikipedia.
