Australian Football

Steve Leehane was a classy footballer who played for most of his League career with Carlton as a defender, although he was sufficiently versatile as to be able to play almost anywhere. Between 1914 and 1919 he played 82 VFL games and kicked 14 goals for the Blues. At the end of his debut season he was on a half back flank and one of Carlton’s best in a grand final win over South Melbourne. He would almost certainly have made it two flags in a row in 1915 but a season ending groin injury just prior to the finals meant that he was absent from the team which went back to back with a resounding triumph over Collingwood. When the Blues made it through to a third straight flag decider in 1916 Leehane lined up at full back but could not prevent a soul destroying loss to Fitzroy.

Continuing to play good football right through to the end of his career Steve Leehane was handed his Big V debut in 1919. His sons Ted and Tom both later played in the VFL.

Author - John Devaney