Leigh Colbert

Leigh Colbert
Colbert in July 2010
Personal information
Full name Leigh Colbert
Date of birth (1975-06-07) 7 June 1975 (age 49)
Original team(s) South Bendigo
Draft 18th overall, 1992
Geelong
Height 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 91 kg (201 lb)
Position(s) Half-back / Fullback
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1993–1999 Geelong 105 (50)
2000–2005 Kangaroos 104 (14)
Total 209 (64)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2005.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Leigh Colbert (born 7 June 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and the Kangaroos in the Australian Football League (AFL).

AFL career

1993–1999: Geelong

He made his debut with Geelong in 1993 and became a fearless player, usually playing off half-back, but then found his way as a key-position player.

He was awarded Geelong's captaincy in 1999, but did not play a game that season due to injury. The falling out between the club and Colbert caused great controversy.[1] He was traded for Cameron Mooney and draft picks that yielded, amongst others, six-time All Australian and two-time Best and Fairest winner Corey Enright. Mooney retired a dual premiership player with the Cats, and Enright retired as a three-time premiership player.[2]

2000–2005: Kangaroos

In 2000, Colbert moved to the Kangaroos, mostly holding up full-back or centre half-back.

In 2004, Colbert was appointed the Kangaroos delegate for the AFL Players Association (AFLPA). In 2005, Colbert announced his retirement.

Post-football career

In 2006, Colbert joined the West Coast Eagles as one of their back-room staff. It was on a part-time basis, based in Melbourne.

He was a boundary rider for Fox Sports, including post-match interviews and one-on-one interviews for Fox Sports AFL of the Ablett brothers, and a one-on-one interview with Adam Simpson on his 250th game for the Kangaroos.

In 2009, he was a flying instructor at Moorabbin Flight Services at Moorabbin Airport, and also a pilot for an air freight service at Moorabbin Airport, before becoming a pilot with Tigerair Australia.[3]

In 2020, he was announced as the new licensee of two McDonald's franchises in Mildura and Irymple after the former licensees were ousted in a racism scandal.[4]

References

  1. ^ Judd new model for player trading
  2. ^ Geelong's nine-year journey
  3. ^ Leigh Colbert on his flying career
  4. ^ "AFL star Leigh Colbert takes on Mildura McDonald's franchise". 31 January 2020.