Born: March 1, 1952
Recruited: Chelsea FC
Played: 1969 - 1985
Debut Order: 598
First game: Round 16, 1969
Last game: Grand Final, 1985
Games: 332
Goals: 915
Guernsey: 32 (1969 - 1971), 3 (1972 - 1985)
Captain: 1981 - 1985
Premierships: 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983
Night Premierships: 1969, 1977
Leading Goal kicker: 1975 (68)
Best & Fairest: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982
2nd Best & Fairest: 1975, 1981
3rd Best & Fairest: 1973
Life Member: 1976
Team of the Century: 2001
Hall of Fame - Legend of the Club: 2003

VFL / AFL Honours
3rd Brownlow Medal: 1973, 1982
Coleman Medal: 1975
State Captain: 1980
State Representative: 14
VFL/AFL Life Member: 1984
AFL Legend: 1996
AFL Team of the Century: 1996
All-Australian: 1972, 1982, 1983
AFLPA MVP: 1982

Leigh Matthews has been judged as the game’s greatest player. He embodied the qualities that made the Hawks the envy of all. Matthews was squat, short-legged and barrel-chested and played the game in a courageous, physical and totally fearless manner. A reliable kick on goal he always made the ball his objective. A measure of his talent was winning eight Best and Fairest awards in an era when the Club was consistently in the finals and had some of the most talented players in the competition.