Vale: Claremont lose Leo Johnston

John Townsend

Leo Johnston, who was just 16 when he played the first of his 74 matches for Claremont, has died suddenly. He was 83.

Johnston was a Scotch College student when he was called up to play for the Tigers late in the 1955 season, becoming the club’s 438th league representative.

He was 16 years and 135 days, making him the WAFL’s sixth youngest player to that point, and Claremont’s second youngest behind Johnny Compton.

Bud Byfield was also 16 when he played in Claremont’s 1940 premiership team while Guy McKenna and Michael Gardiner later played as 16-years-olds before going on to substantial AFL careers.

Johnston did not play in 1956, his final year at school, but became a regular over the next four seasons before retiring at 21 to concentrate on his career as one of WA’s most prominent journalists.

Playing mostly as a wingman or half-back flank, Johnston kicked 49 goals in his 74 games, including 24 in his best season in 1959 when he played 20 matches.

Johnston was an outstanding reporter and highly influential chief-of-staff at The West Australian, became deputy editor at the Sunday Times and had senior roles at the Daily News.