Australian Football

Andrew McLeod was one of the most exciting footballers of his generation. He commenced in the SANFL with Port Adelaide and was a member of the club's 1994 premiership side. However, it is for his achievements at Adelaide that he will be remembered, and his name will forever be synonymous with that club.

Pacy, incisive and abundantly creative, McLeod, who made his AFL debut for the Crows in 1995, rapidly developed into a prime exemplar of all that is best in modern, running football. His explosive form either off a half back flank or on the ball was a major reason for Adelaide's triumphant march to the 1997 and 1998 premierships, and it was both extremely fitting, and no coincidence, that McLeod was rewarded with the Norm Smith Medal after both seasons' Grand Finals. In 1997 in particular he was arguably the most exciting player to watch in Australia, an assessment he repeatedly endorsed with best afield or near best afield performances all year. Not surprisingly, he also won the first of his three club champion awards that season.

McLeod, who has been chosen as an AFL All Australian five times, hails from a football family in that his father played in excess of 250 games in the NTFL with Darwin. By the time of his retirement at the end of 2010, McLeod himself had comfortably exceeded that total in the AFL with his tally of 340 appearances making him the Crows' third 300 game player.

In 2011, McLeod signed a part-time contract with the Northern Territory Football Club in the inaugural NEAFL season. He played a total of eight games and kicked 10 goals for the Thunder.

Author - John Devaney, with updates by Oliver Gigacz