Lou Sleeth


Louis David Sleeth was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League.

Family

The son of Charles Alfred Sleeth, and Johanna "Annie" Sleeth, née Ring, Louis David Sleeth was born at Lilydale, Victoria on 26 February 1916.
He married Dalila Mary "Dolly" Garton in 1947.

Football

Box Hill (ESFL)

He played in 160 games over 20 seasons 1929-1934, 1936, 1939, 1941-1948 for the Box Hill Football Club in the Eastern Suburbs Football League.

East Burwood (FL)

He played for the East [Burwood Football Club] in the Federal Football League in 1935.

Richmond (VFL)

A left-footed half-forward flanker, Sleeth was cleared from Box Hill to Richmond on 21 April 1937. He played for two seasons, and played in 20 First XVIII matches, scoring 22 goals, and in 14 Second XVIII matches, scoring 23 goals.

7 August 1937

On 7 August 1937, as a member of the greatly weakened Richmond side that played against Essendon, at the Punt Road Ground Percy Bentley, Jack Dyer, and Dick Harris were absent interstate with the VFL, and George Smeaton and Billy Wells were both injured Sleeth, best on the ground, kicked six of Richmond's 13 goals, in an unexpected two point victory.

1937 Best First-Year Players

In September 1937, The Argus selected Sleeth in its team of 1937's first-year players.
Best First-Year Players
BacksBernie Treweek
Reg Henderson
Lawrence Morgan
H/BacksGordon Waters
Bill Cahill
Eddie Morcom
Centre LineTed Buckley
George Bates
Jack Kelly
H/ForwardsCol Williamson
Ray Watts
Don Dilks
ForwardsLou Sleeth
Sel Murray
Charlie Pierce
Rucks/RoverReg Garvin
Sandy Patterson
Des Fothergill
Second RuckLawrence MorganCol WilliamsonLou Sleeth

Preston (VFA)

Cleared from Box Hill to Preston on 17 April 1940. He played in 14 games and scored 30 goals in the 1940 season.