Herb Burleigh (14 June 1892 – 2 November 1975) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Herb Burleigh
Burleigh in his WWI uniform
Personal information
Date of birth 14 June 1892
Place of birth Nirranda, Victoria
Date of death 2 November 1975(1975-11-02) (aged 83)
Place of death Ceduna, South Australia
Original team(s) Morwell
Debut Round 3, 1914, Carlton vs. University, at MCG
Height 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1914–1919 Carlton 32 (55)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1919.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Burleigh made his debut for the Carlton Football Club in Round 3 of the 1914 season. In 1915 he played as centre half forward and was Carlton's leading goalkicker for the season. He enlisted during the 1915 season but deferred his call up until after Carlton had won the 1915 VFL Grand Final.

In September 1917 his right forearm was severely injured and, despite surgery, it was clear that his front-line military service was over. In January, 1918, he returned to Australia and was later discharged from the army as medically unfit.

Despite his injury, Burleigh was determined to return to football and he managed three more games in the 1919 season before his war injury forced him into retirement.

Burleigh returned to his original career of teaching in 1920, and spent the rest of his life teaching, mainly in rural communities.

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