Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Andrew Leoncelli

Known as
Andrew Leoncelli

Born
17 July 1974 (age 49)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 3d
Last game: 29y 2d

Height and weight
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 85 kg

Senior clubs
Melbourne

Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 36

Andrew Leoncelli

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
MelbourneAFL1996-2003146660.4545%11.636.183.8626
Total1996-2003146660.4545%11.636.183.8626

AFL: 10,727th player to appear, 1,400th most games played, 1,633rd most goals kickedMelbourne: 1,175th player to appear, 74th most games played, 111th most goals kicked

fter playing 23 reserves matches for Carlton, but none in the seniors, Andrew Leoncelli was de-listed, and did not again play football for a year. In 1995 he joined VAFA side Old Xaverians and enjoyed an excellent campaign which included a premiership and the club’s best and fairest award. He ended up being drafted by Melbourne ahead of the 1996 season, and, after overcoming the setback of an injured ankle sustained in a practice match, he produced consistently fine form, playing mainly as a midfielder. In his second season he ran third in the Demons’ best and fairest count despite only playing a dozen games for the year. With his form continuing to improve it was no surprise when he was selected to represent Victoria in 1999.

With the notable exception of an uncharacteristically quiet performance in the 2000 grand final loss to Essendon Leoncelli’s career continued on an upward spiral for the most part, right up to his retirement as a player in July 2003. He had been endeavouring to recover from an injured ankle and confessed that he had lost some of the drive and enthusiasm needed to succeed at football’s top level. He had played 146 AFL games for the Dees and scored 66 goals. He later player coached Balmain and, later still, served as a Melbourne Football Club director.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.