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Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club
Played 1981-82 – 1999-00
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Player records
Off the field
Club honours
Hall of Fame · inducted 2013
1st X1 career: 1981-82 to 1999-2000 (19 seasons; 253 matches)
All-rounder. Right-hand batsman. 6889 runs, average 30.75, with 7 centuries.
Right-arm medium-pace bowler. 155 wickets, average 29.24.
Century maker and top score (131no) in 1993-94 premiership. Shared record unbroken partnership of 221 with Brendan Joyce.
Club stalwart and current Board member.
Club Legend · inducted 2024
Leigh Watts followed his older brothers Gary and Rod to Fitzroy from Maryborough at the age of 13, starting his career in the 4th XI in 1978-79. As a schoolboy, he was driven from Maryborough to games each weekend by his parents, Max and Norma, who followed the careers of their sons very closely. Max even played some games in the 4th XI, including captaining the side at times, when required.
Max, Gary, Rod and Leigh Watts
Leigh had one season with the Victorian Under 16 team and 3 seasons with the Victorian Under 19 team. In 1983/84 he was a member of the Australian Under 19 team alongside Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh and Mark Taylor, playing against Sri Lanka in one Youth Test Match and three Youth ODIs.
At Fitzroy, Leigh rose through the grades quickly, making his 1st XI debut in 1981-82 at age 16. He went on to play 253 games, making 6889 runs at an average of 30.75 (7 centuries and 41 fifties) currently placing him 6th on the list of the Club’s all-time run scorers. He also took 155 wickets at an average of 29.25 (5 wickets in an innings 5 times).
In the 1993-94 Final, Leigh made 131no (his highest score for the Club) in a record 221 undefeated partnership with Brendan Joyce (92no) to seal an 8 wicket Premiership win. In the Club’s history, only Arthur Liddicut (114 in 1930-31), Jack Potter (100 in 1966-67) and Peter Dickson (226rh in 2015-16) have also made centuries in Premiership-winning Finals.
Leigh was appointed Captain/Coach of the Club in 1996/97 and 1997/98 before standing down to continue playing under Grant Gardiner. Leigh finished his playing career in 1999/2000 and then took on the role as non-playing coach for the 2000/01 season.
He later served on the Selection Committee for several seasons, and served on the Club Committee from 2010/11 until 2021/22.
He has been appointed a Life Member of the Club, and was an inaugural inductee into the Hall of Fame in 2012/13.
A club stalwart, Leigh was one of the most competitive and dedicated players ever to represent the club, a great fieldsman and the ultimate team man.
Career figures combine what's recorded live in Morrie with the club's own historical records — averages are shown only where there's enough real data to be honest about.