William Heath (and family) and Don "Duxie" Allen were the 17^th and 18^th inductees

Bill Heath was a champion full forward who averaged and astonishing 4.5 goals per game across a distinguished career.

He kicked a number of goals with the place kick and he was an excellent exponent of this skill, having also been a good Rugby League player, primarily in the fullback position.

Those who saw him play said he had an outstanding kick, and often kick goals from 60 yards out.

Playing for the Leeton Redlegs, Heath was a prolific goal kicker. In his nine full seasons his lowest tally for the season was 63 (1954), followed by 77 (1953).

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The other seven seasons he played he exceeded 80 goals per season. Bill became the first ever Leeton player to surpass the magical 100 goal mark in the 1958 season leading all comers in the SWDFL booting 111 for the season.

He had the honour of leading the Leeton team out onto the ground on grand final day 1958, winning the Centenary Premiership for the Club.

As legend has it, a week after the grand final in front of Frank Driscoll's barbershop, Bill Heath and Ritchie Younger lined up for the "big shear". Both these gentlemen vowed early in the year they would have a 'YulBruner' haircut if Leeton won the premiership and the supporters kept them to their promise.

Before leaving Leeton to play football in Canberra at the end of the 1959 season, Heath received life membership for outstanding service to the Leeton Football Club.

Don "Duxie" Allen is regarded as one of the most talented footballers ever to play for Leeton and was a tough and talented midfielder.

Those who saw him play have likened him to a combination of modern day greats of the club in Bryce O'Garey and Daryl Clayton.

Allen dominated during the club's 1958 premiership season and was identified by Collingwood recruiting officers and was invited to trial for the Magpies ahead of the 1959 VFL season but found it difficult to break into the Pies then premiership team competing for a spot in the midfield against champion Thorold Merrett.

Duxie was a talented sportsman in many areas including swimming and athletics and was known as a 'tough bastard' in a tough era winning three club best and fairests during a golden era for the club.

One of the great stories linked to "Duxie" from the era came courtesy of Whitton Tigers enforcer Rusty Kelly who was working on the Allen Family Farm for Max during the 50s.

Rusty asked Max if he would still have a tomorrow if he belted is son as that is what he needed to do to help the Tigers beat their fierce rivals the next day.

Max's reply was quite simple "you'll be working tomorrow Rusty because there is no way you will catch him".

DON 'DUXIE' ALLEN

WILLIAM HEATH

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