‘Looks like he went 15 rounds with Mike Tyson’: Leckie leads City to title despite horror injury
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‘He looks like he’s gone 15 rounds with Mike Tyson’: Leckie puts nose, body on line for title By Roy Ward Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie put his body on the line to lead his side to the A-League championship and he won the Joe Marston Medal as best player because of it.
Leckie had his nose taped to his face and he played in that condition for the bulk of the second half, making a host of vital plays in the unexpected role of a midfielder.
City’s Mathew Leckie with his nose injury. Credit: Getty Images
City won the grand final 1-0 on a first-half goal from Israeli international Yonatan Cohen in front of more than 29,000 fans at AAMI Park.
Leckie spent much of the post-game in the team’s medical room after opting to play on after having his nose slashed open after an accidental boot to the face.
He also played through a hamstring injury, which will now keep him out of the Socceroos’ crunch World Cup qualifiers against Japan in Perth on June 5 and against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah five days later. Leckie confirmed he had been called up to the national set-up, but his injury status means his green-and-gold absence will extend beyond a year.
Leckie wasn’t named in the Socceroos squad announced on Sunday. While teammates Aziz Behich, Kai Trewin and Marco Tilio flew to Perth on Sunday morning, Leckie was at City’s championship celebrations at AAMI Park. He hasn’t played for Australia since the June 2024 win over Palestine, when Graham Arnold was still coach.
“I want to be there. I really do,” Leckie said.
“I’ve always said that I love the national team – I love representing Australia. But obviously over the last two years, my body’s just been a lot of dramas with injuries and as much as I would like to be there, what’s happening now with this and recently with my leg, I really, really think I do need just a really good break, and hopefully it all works out for next season.
“I need a good pre-season – not just [a] stop-start [one]. Because I was back four or five times this year.
“I need consistency. My body needs game time, and hopefully with a really good break that’ll happen.”
Leckie was able to celebrate with his teammates and accept his medal and the A-League’s “golden toilet seat” trophy on Saturday night, but City coach Aurelio Vidmar and City officials both said once he removed the tape, his nose “blew up” and is potentially broken.
Leckie put on a fearless display, blocking a goal-bound shot from Victory’s Zinedine Machach in the first half and giving his side a speedy, physical presence in midfield.
Melbourne City’s Marco Tilio and Mathew Leckie embrace after winning the A-League grand final. Credit: Getty Images
“I didn’t feel dizzy or get that sort of concussion feel,” Leckie told Channel 10 post-game.
“I didn’t see the replay, so I don’t know, but I’ve heard I will probably look like a different person tomorrow, but if we came away from this game with a loss and I look like this it would sting a bit, but it is all worth it now.
“I have probably got two hours in a doctor’s room now, but we will see how it goes.”
Victory trio Daniel Arzani, Kasey Bos and Ryan Teague were also called up for national duty.
Following Saturday night’s A-League decider, Vidmar said of Leckie: “He looked better before. I think he has gone 15 rounds with Mike Tyson – he’s pretty banged up.
“I don’t think it is concussion. He got studded on the face, he’s g
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