Brian Kekovich’s 70th

Happy 70th birthday to Brian Kekovich.

 

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From the Blueseum

 


Playing Career : 1967-1968
Debut : Round 1, 1967 vs Fitzroy, aged 21 years, 97 days
Carlton Player No. 794
Games : 34
Goals : 97
Guernsey No. 16
Last Game: Grand Final, 1968 vs Essendon, aged 22 years, 264 days
Height : 187 cm
Weight : 86 kg
Date of Birth: 7 January, 1946
Premiership Player: 1968
Leading Goalkicker: 1967, 1968

The older brother of North Melbourne champion Sam Kekovich, Brian was a star full-forward from Myrtleford who arrived at Princes Park in 1967 with huge expectations on his shoulders. In his 34 games for Carlton in two seasons, Kekovich showed the same mercurial ability as his brother later would, before his promising career was cruelly cut short by a chronic back injury in the midst of Premiership celebrations.

At 187 cm and 86 kg, with strong hands and a powerful left foot kick, Kekovich settled into a Carlton team on the rise and booted 36 goals in his first season. Carlton finished second after the home and away rounds of 1967, then disappointingly lost both their finals matches to end the year in third place. Those losses spurred the Blues into season 1968. We were beaten by Essendon twice during the year, yet still finished runners-up. Then we marched into the Grand Final with a 36 point upset win over the Bombers in the second semi-final. In mid-season of that year, Brian had hurt his back when he was crunched in a marking duel, but ignored the pain and played on. He had made a big impression in only his second year of VFL football, booting 59 goals by the time the Blues met Essendon – who had beaten Geelong in the Preliminary Final – yet again on Grand Final day.

A strong, swirling cross-field wind turned the ’68 Grand Final into a close, mistake-ridden encounter. The match was highlighted by Kekovich’s four goals in Carlton’s winning tally of seven; and wingman Gary Crane’s superb game on the wing to be voted Best on Ground. Carlton won by three points to claim our first flag since 1947. Brian’s contribution to the flag win was significant, as highlighted by the fact that our five losses for the year were the only five matches he missed – a remarkable statistic!

Only a short while after the Grand Final – when Kekovich sought treatment for his back – the diagnosis came as a total shock. He was advised to retire from football immediately – or risk spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Unfortunately for him and for Carlton, Brian’s short but successful career in the number 16 Navy Blue guernsey was over.

One Reply to “Brian Kekovich’s 70th”

  1. I always admired Brian’s skill as a footballer, I originally met him when he came to the Cohuna high school now named the Secondary College. Brian and his family were growing tobacco at Gunbower in Northern Victoria. After spending a couple years of high school Brian then moved to Myrtleford in the Ovens Valley where his football skills continue to develop until he joined Carlton.
    I’m currently visiting Perth and would like to meet Brian again where I understand he resides, so far unable to make contact with him. Would like an introduction or a mobile number to do so, we had some great discussions at school and a couple of times that I’ve met him since his football days. He providers all with such great memories of his football skills and prowess.

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