Australian Football

Invariably known as 'Leo', Henry Wescott was a late starter in league football, being already 22 years of age by the time he made his VFL debut with Collingwood in 1922. Solidly reliable, and an excellent kick, he played most of his 143 game senior career with the Magpies in the back pocket, from which position he contributed to the 1927 Final and 1929 Challenge Final defeats of Richmond.

After spending the 1930 season with NTFA side Longford, where he won the Tasman Shield Trophy as the competition's best and fairest player, Wescott resumed with the Magpies in 1931 and played on for two final seasons. After coaching Kyneton in 1933 he was appointed captain-coach of VFA side Prahran where he held the reins for five seasons, the last two in a non-playing capacity. Under Wescott, the Two Blues contested the Grand Finals of 1936 and 1937, winning the latter game at the expense of Brunswick.

When the side dropped to fourth in 1938, Wescott had a difference of opinion with club officials which precipitated his departure to Sandringham, where he served as coach until midway through a disastrous 1941 season that ended with the Zebras rooted to the bottom of the ladder, without a win from their 20 matches. It was undoubtedly not the climax to his coaching career that 'he would have wanted, but the fact is that cold statistics sometimes belie the truth, which in this case is that 'Leo' Wescott was highly regarded at Sandringham for his efforts to lift the club, efforts which might be seen as belatedly bearing fruit with the Zebras' march to the 1946 premiership.

Author - John Devaney