LEEHANE, Ted

Ted Leehane was a fast moving, high-marking centre half-forward and full-forward who combined well with John Coleman in the premiership seasons of 1949 and 1950.

He came from East Brunswick CYMS and had a habit of bobbing up at the right place at the right time. His teammates remembered him as a perfectionist who was intensely serious on the ground, but friendly and approachable off it. His consummate team play was recognised in his Most Unselfish Player award in 1950. John Coleman acknowledged that Leehane's selflessness helped him reach his 100 goals. He said "He actually waited for me to lead when he could have kicked it himself".

Leehane enlisted in February 1942 but was able to play 12 games that year and two more early in 1943 before missing the next two seasons while serving elsewhere in Australia and overseas. He returned for three games late in 1946.

He was full-forward in the 1942 premiership victory and then amongst Essendon's best at centre half-forward in the 1949 premiership team. In 1950, he ruptured his kidney and came back just in time to be a reserve in the premiership team.

He took over at centre half-forward from Gordon Lane in 1948 and was runner-up in the Best and Fairest award in that year. He was also Essendon leading goalkicker in 1947 with 50 goals and was third top in 1948.

After leaving Essendon, Leehane was captain-coach of Mansfield from 1951 to 1956. He was then captain-coach of Caulfield in 1957.

The Leehanes were a strong football family. Ted Leehane's brother, Tom, played seven games for Essendon (1950-1951), and their father, Steve, played 82 games for Carlton (1914-1919).

Ted Leehane retired in 1984 from his job as a Field Sales Manager for Four'N'Twenty Pies where he had worked for twenty eight years.

He volunteered at the Hall of Fame, helping with raffles and other museum tasks.

He was named at number 49 in the Champions of Essendon (2002).