Leon Bradley joined Avoca in 1975 after Amphitheatre disbanded.
Ironically he became known as Leon the Local.
In his first season he won the Best Under 20 award and finished third in the Best & Fairest voting, behind two of the club’s greatest players, Terry Long and Brian Coghlan.
Leon had loads of natural ability and also a reputation for using a bit of muscle.
He quickly established himself as one of the Bulldogs` best players, and was selected in the Lexton League representative side in 1981.
Brad was notorious for going walkabout all over Australia at the end of each year, but he always returned for the start of the following football season.
Along with his father, Harold, Leon was also a hard working club man, and coached the Under 16`s in 1982.
One infamous night, whilst running late for training, his blue HG Holden entered the ground at a quick rate of knots. In his haste, Brad had forgotten how slippery the old netball court could be.
The combination of lush grass on cracked asphalt and frantic braking converted the old court into an ice rink.
Brad was helpless as the HG skidded across the court out of control and straight through the public bar, ripping the place apart.
And that`s just one of the stories that can be told about Leon the Local!.
