| Brian Leahy | |
| Fullname: | Brian Peter Leahy |
| Birth Date: | 3 February 1943 |
| Death Place: | Wodonga, Victoria |
| Originalteam: | North Albury |
| Height: | 185 cm |
| Weight: | 83 kg |
| Position: | Half back |
| Statsend: | 1965 |
| Years1: | 1960–1965 |
| Games Goals1: | 79 (2) |
| Careerhighlights: | |
Brian Peter 'Wrecker' Leahy (3 February 1943 – 24 January 2004) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the early 1960s. His brothers John and Terry also played for Melbourne.
A strongly built half back, Leahy was noted for his bursts off the flanks. At age 15 he won the North Albury Football Club's best and fairest[1] and was just 16 when signed up by Melbourne, spending 1959 in the reserves.
On 18 April 1960 during the Round 1 clash with North Melbourne, Leahy became the 786th player to wear the Melbourne guernsey. He went on to play a further 11 matches with Melbourne during the 1960 season, including the Grand Final against Collingwood.[2] At 17 years and 233 days Brian became the second youngest premiership player in VFL history, just 11 days older than the record holder Murray Weideman.
During the 1961 season, Leahy played a total of 17 matches – two with his older brother, John (Rounds 12 and 13) – and received two votes for the Brownlow Medal. He played another 17 matches in 1962, including the Semi-Final loss to Carlton and received another Brownlow Medal vote.[3]
Leahy played a total of 18 games during the 1963 season and kicked his first VFL goal during the Round 7 loss to South Melbourne. In 1964 he kicked his second goal against South Melbourne (Round 11)[4] before a thigh injury cost him another premiership.
A torn Achilles tendon the following season ultimately ended Leahy's VFL career – he played only one game in 1965 – the Round 16 loss to Geelong.[5]
Leahy finished his career in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) where he played briefly with both Yarraville and Northcote. He then coached South Melbourne's Under-19s football team.
Brian Leahy died in Wodonga on 24 January 2004[6] and is buried at the Glenmorous Gardens Lawn Cemetery, Albury.