David McLeish
1969-1980
213 games
22 goals

Young, aspiring footballers dream of the day they finally crack the big time, making their league debut. That moment arrived in Round 12 of the 1969 VFL season for David McLeish. Legendary coach Norm Smith had joined South Melbourne that year, and deep into the final quarter against Fitzroy at Princes Park, he gave the 19-year-old McLeish his long-awaited chance.

However, even the most determined of athletes can face unexpected hurdles. On the sidelines, the budding wingman encountered a minor but unusual challenge — he had difficulty removing his tracksuit pants over his boots. This unexpected issue could have dampened his spirits, but McLeish's resilience shone through. After Smith tipped him upside down, reefing the problematic pants off, McLeish, undeterred, belatedly entered the fray.

And quite simply, he never looked back.

McLeish began his footballing journey growing up in the northern Victorian town of Kerang. Surrounded by pristine bushland, parks and waterways, the environment encouraged an active, outdoor lifestyle. By 14, McLeish was playing for the Kerang Under 19s. In 1967, aged 17, he debuted for the club's senior side, and the following year, he claimed their best and fairest award.

An avid Melbourne supporter but tied to the Swans by the country zoning system, McLeish attracted the attention of South officials Brian' Wrecker' Leahy and Noel Brady. The pair drove up the highway to entice the promising youngster to South. Reflecting on this pivotal moment, McLeish later said, "I saw it as a tremendous opportunity. I don't know of too many blokes who have turned down invitations to play league football."

His arrival at the Lake Oval coincided with Smith's, and the master coach arrived with an aura that demanded respect. Reflecting on the early stages of his tenure in The Red Fox, Smith said, "I knew very little about South when I went there. A lot of players—particularly the older ones—got their positions too easily. There was not enough pressure on them."

So, Smith, eager to test the wares of the club's younger players, debuted McLeish in a team of four 19-year-olds, 18-year-old John Pitura and 17-year-old Steve Hoffman. The youthful Swans team, missing an injured Bob Skilton, was led by 25-year-old John Rantall and reigning best and fairest Peter Bedford was 22.

Impressing as a speedy and skilled winger, McLeish featured in the Swans' final nine matches of the 1969 season, and despite finishing ninth, optimism surrounded South Melbourne. The following year, he played 22 of 23 games as South broke a 25-year finals drought, finishing fourth and qualifying for a semi-final showdown with St Kilda.

On a momentous day for the club, McLeish lined up on a wing in what would be Bloods Legend Bob Skilton's only finals appearance. The anticipation was palpable, and the atmosphere, electric. Before the match, Graham Burke wrote in The Football Record, "South have pace, and their teamwork is excellent. The Swans will concentrate on keeping the ball out of the air by sending it into the wide open spaces."

The match attracted a mammoth crowd of 104,329, but despite leading at halftime, the Swans were overpowered in the second half. "Being a part of the action for Bobby's only final and playing in front of such a massive crowd was nothing short of incredible," McLeish said. "We did lose, but a crowd of 104,000 is a record, and I'd say Skilton dragged most of those people along just by being Bobby Skilton."

As a wingman, McLeish displayed outstanding pace, tenacity, and skill, making him a difficult proposition for any opposition. He played with courage, and his strong tackling inspired his teammates. The team struggled for consistency following the relative success of 1970, but McLeish became one of the league's most accomplished wingers.

At the end of the 1972 season, Smith's reign came to an end, but his legacy lived on. Fellow Swans Hall of Famer Rick Quade played most of his career alongside McLeish, and he believes McLeish played a pivotal role in carrying Smith's highly principled values into the next phase of the club's remarkable journey.

Another former teammate, Graeme John, became South Melbourne's senior coach ahead of the 1973 season. With club stalwart John Rantall moving to North Melbourne, Graeme John made the strategic decision to move McLeish into the half-back line to strengthen the Swans' defence. This move proved a masterstroke, as McLeish's disciplined approach and defensive skills ensured he made an immediate impact in his new position.

McLeish was a versatile player, often tasked with marking some the game's best forwards and wingmen, including Leigh Matthews, Robbie Flower, Alex Jesaulenko, George Young, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Keith Greig. And, no matter the task, no matter the challenge, McLeish's coaches and teammates knew they could rely on him. As further recognition, McLeish represented Victoria in a win against Western Australia in 1976.

Triple Brownlow Medallist Ian Stewart took over as the Swans' coach in '76 and quickly built a competitive team. They won nine games in his first year, then, in 1977, South Melbourne reached the VFL finals for the second time in 32 years. McLeish, now a leading senior player, played a crucial role in guiding the young Swans through pressure situations, providing a steadying hand when it was most needed.

In the lead-up to their semi-final with Richmond, The Football Record described McLeish's impact as follows: "David still has the pace to keep with most opponents. A former winger who is one of the five still at the club who played in the '70 First Semi-Final side, he has had a great last half of the season and will certainly be a contributor today."

While the Tigers prevailed by 34 points, McLeish was named as one of South's best players. "Finals appearances were extremely rare for the Swans and, thank goodness, that appears to be all in the past," McLeish told Jim Main. "But it certainly was good to play in those two finals matches."

McLeish played his final match in red and white as part of the Swans team defeated by Geelong in the 1980 Reserves Grand Final. The following year, as captain-coach of Wodonga, he won an Ovens and Murray premiership. He played in two more before retiring at 38, having played a further 145 games for the Bulldogs.

In 2019 McLeish was inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame, recognising his unwavering dedication to the red and white cause. After receiving the honour, McLeish said, "Becoming a Swans Hall of Famer is right up there with my other achievements. It's one that you can brag about to your grandkids, and I just hope that once I'm gone, they can brag that I'm a part of the Hall of Fame at the Sydney Swans. So that's what I'm really proud about – that it's for the family as well."

"It's a great honour to be recognised in such a way. My career of 12 years started when I was a young buck, and now they're presenting me this honour 50 years after I started playing. It is just an absolute privilege, and I am just so proud."