20 Facts About Brian Kekovich

Brian Kekovich was signed up to play with Carlton immediately Richmond's hold on him had lapsed.

Brian Kekovich threatened to remain in Melbourne, and stay out of football altogether if Myrtleford did not clear him.

Brian Kekovich was cleared at the last moment by Myrtleford, just in time for him to play in round seven.

Brian Kekovich played 34 senior games for Carlton.

Brian Kekovich was a fine team player, who always played a strong and reliable team game.

Brian Kekovich was an excellent mark, and he had no hesitation passing the ball to a teammate who was in a better position.

In one of the club's 1968 pre-season practice matches, Brian Kekovich, playing at full-forward, had been held to only two goals by Ron Stone up to three-quarter time; in the last quarter Brian Kekovich dominated and scored another five goals to make his total seven goals for the match.

In 1968, Carlton won every match in which Brian Kekovich took the field, and lost each of the five matches he missed: round 2, round 3, round 14, round 15, and round 16.

Brian Kekovich kicked a total of 95 career goals; he kicked 6 goals in a match twice, 5 goals four times, and 4 goals six times.

Brian Kekovich was Carlton's leading goal-kicker in 1967 and 1968, kicking 36 goals and 59 goals respectively.

Brian Kekovich received four Brownlow Medal votes during the 1968 season; and he was a very significant contributor to Carlton's three-point 1968 Grand Final victory over Essendon: 7.14 to 8.5.

Brian Kekovich was one of Carlton's best players, and he had made a very strong contribution to their win.

Brian Kekovich had kept the severity and nature of his back ailment to himself, and the Carlton officials were not aware that the courageous and highly motivated Kekovich was secretly receiving extensive treatment, including acupuncture, each week, at his own expense.

Brian Kekovich played his first game for the 1969 season, with Carlton Reserves, against Essendon on 31 May 1969.

On 26 June 1969, Brian Kekovich applied for a clearance from Carlton to North Melbourne, on the grounds that he wanted to play with his brother Sam.

Brian Kekovich "trained lightly" on that Thursday evening, and "did not speak to the match committee about a clearance".

The club doctor "told them that at no time this season had Brian Kekovich been fully fit".

Brian Kekovich did not play again for the Carlton Reserve grade team in 1969.

In 1970, the courageous Brian Kekovich sought, and was granted a clearance from Carlton to North Melbourne.

In February 1970, the Carlton secretary, Bert Deacon, apparently now in possession of the medical report from the Carlton doctor, announced that Brian Kekovich, who had been training quite intensely in the preceding few months had been cleared, on "compassionate grounds", to North Melbourne, so that he could be with his two brothers.