Career: 1941-1951, 54-55; 1941-1951 North Melbourne, 1954-55 St Kilda
Games: 167; 134 North Melbourne, 33 St Kilda
Goals: 109; 105 North Melbourne, 4 St Kilda
Brownlow Medal: 50 career votes
Guernsey numbers: 19 (1941), 30 (1942), 1943-1944 (unknown), 18 (1945;1947), 17 (1946)
Height: 182cm
Weight: 85kg
DOB: 20 August 1924 (Debut: 16y 291d, last game: 31y)
Few realised, when 16-year old Les Foote first played with North Melbourne in 1941, that they were witnessing the start of one of the most sensational careers ever enjoyed by a football. During that season, and the 10 that followed, supporters witnessed a player who thrilled and delighted team, outclassed opponents, and won the praise and acclaim of football commentators and public generally.
A flaxen-haired, well-built athlete, Les Foote was a case of "local boy makes good". His playing career with the club stretched from 1941 to 1951, encompassing their first ever League final's appearance as well as three others, one minor premiership and their first participation in that "last Saturday in September" - the VFL Grand Final.
He was also the first man to captain a North Melbourne League side for four seasons; he was the first to win the Syd Barker Medal more than once, the first to receive it in consecutive years, and eventually the first to win the medal three times, in 1945, 1949 and 1950.
The Encyclopaedia of League Footballers assesses him:
"Famous for his superb ball-handling skills, he was to his era what Baldock and Jesaulenko were to their time. A dazzling footballer who ran close to the ground and could weave, twist and baulk his way out of seemingly impossible situations. He specialised in the blind turn and was a perfectionist in developing his game which was built on a potent cocktail of balance, power, pace and courage."
Foote was a member of interstate sides in 1946, 1947, 1950 and 1951. Two of these years, 1947 and 1950, were national championships, and in the latter he was appointed vice-captain of Victoria. Is it unfortunate that the naming of All-Australian teams only began in 1953, after his retirement. Over his 11 seasons with the club he featured in 135 fames and kicked 107 goals. One game, of course, climaxed all the rest, that Grand Final of 1950. On that historic occasion, North's opponent was Essednon, and their victorious captain, Dick Reynolds, assessed Foote's contribution in this way:
"Foote must be congratulated for his inspiring leadership, his tireless play and many, almost single-handed efforts to lift his side. This display, together with his performances in the other finals, stamps him as the outstadning player of the final series."
Another tribute to his prowess on the field came in the North Melbourne Football Club's annual report for 1905, which proposed his name for approval as a life member:
"Les Foote has established himself as an outstanding player in present-day football, and it is doubtful if he has any equal at the present time; he must be regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and it is with pride that we recommend him for this honour."
Foote's last season as a player was 1951, but he returned to Arden Street in the 1960's, as coach of the reserves. There he was able, in 1967, to guide his side to a VFL premiership. He retained the post for a further season, and went to Brisbane to take up a full-time coaching appointment.
Since then North supporters have had to content themselves with the memory of this genius of Australian Football, and what better way to conjure up such memories than to call the description High Buggy gives in Footy Fan:
"Les Foote, who swept across the football firmament like a flashing meteor just after the war, was the nearest approach to the ideal all round footballer since Dick Reynolds and Ivor Warne-Smith. Foote, a magnificent athlete, dashing and tireless, aimed at perfection in his football. He did his best to master the technique called for in various fixed field positions but his ambition ranged all over the field. He was not content to develop himself into a specialist in any one position. The ideal footballer is the man who can play well in any position without being a misfit. This was the ambitious object of Les Foote and he came as near to it as any player I have seen."
During the AFL centenary season, Foote became a member of the Hall of Fame.
Profile from 'The Encyclopaedia of League Footballers'
VFL/AFL: 4927th player to appear
North Melbourne: 284th player to appear
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