Vale Brian Kekovich

[Aphrodite]

RIP Brian

Vale Brian Kekovich - Blues' drought-breaking Premiership hero

The Carlton Football Club is mourning the loss of its hero of the drought-breaking 1968 Grand Final victory, the 34-game full-forward Brian Kekovich.

www.carltonfc.com.au

The Carlton Football Club is mourning the loss of its hero of the drought-breaking 1968 Grand Final victory, the 34-game full-forward Brian Kekovich.
Kekovich passed away in Perth at the age of 79 after a long illness. Carlton’s AFLW players, who coincidentally meet the Eagles in Perth on Friday night, will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.

History records Kekovich as having booted four goals from full-forward - all before half-time on his natural left foot and three of them with the barrel - in what would be his 34th and final appearance on Grand Final day against Essendon.

 

[Aphrodite]

 

[chuncey]

Condolences to Sam and his other family and friends.

I was lucky enough to attend that GF and Kemal was instrumental in a great win (apainst ***** as well). Keka played 18 games that year and we won all 18. He missed 5 games and we lost all 5. Guess he was a big part of the side.

As an aside I can identify 24 of the 28 in the photo above.

Can someone identify - top row left, 3rd from left, right : third row, 2nd left?

 

[Dramoth]

A supremely talented footballer whose career was cut short by injury. This is a massive lose for his family as well.

Vale Brian. My condolences to the Kekovich family and all their friends.

 

[BigFrizz36]

Condolences to Sam and his other family and friends.

I was lucky enough to attend that GF and Kemal was instrumental in a great win (apainst ***** as well). Keka played 18 games that year and we won all 18. He missed 5 games and we lost all 5. Guess he was a big part of the side.

As an aside I can identify 24 of the 28 in the photo above.

Can someone identify - top row left, 3rd from left, right : third row, 2nd left?

I was there that day as well. Kicked 69 goals in 1968 in 17 games at an average of over 4 goals a game. Incredibly never played another game due to knee injuries.

 

[Robertio]

Condolences to Sam and his other family and friends.

I was lucky enough to attend that GF and Kemal was instrumental in a great win (apainst ***** as well). Keka played 18 games that year and we won all 18. He missed 5 games and we lost all 5. Guess he was a big part of the side.

As an aside I can identify 24 of the 28 in the photo above.

Can someone identify - top row left, 3rd from left, right : third row, 2nd left?

I'll have a stab at 3rd row 2nd left and say Ian Robertson.

 

[Coona Blues]

Condolences to the family.

My recollections are faint and only verbal. Listened to footy on radio back in Tassie as a 7yo. Remember name and that he was a goal kicker (plus of course, historic info seen since)

One of those stories of what might have been…

 

[djw1952]

Condolences to Sam and his other family and friends.

I was lucky enough to attend that GF and Kemal was instrumental in a great win (apainst ***** as well). Keka played 18 games that year and we won all 18. He missed 5 games and we lost all 5. Guess he was a big part of the side.

As an aside I can identify 24 of the 28 in the photo above.

Can someone identify - top row left, 3rd from left, right : third row, 2nd left?

Top row 3rd from left looks like Neil Chandler to me...... third row 2nd from left......is it Ron Stone? Who is the tall bloke with curly hair next to Brian Keka.....is it Edmonds the brother of Jim from the WB?

 

[djw1952]

I'll have a stab at 3rd row 2nd left and say Ian Robertson.

Sorry, but Robbo is behind him and to the right......

 

[chuncey]

Ron Stone - I reckon you’re right,
.

 

[chuncey]

I already had Jim Edmond next to Keka.

Sorry to divert the thread as it is disrespectful.

 

[BigFrizz36]

The 1968 grand final id guess would be likely the only grand final where one player kicked at least 50% of their teams goals for the game. Brian Kekovich kicked 4 of Carltons 7 goals whilst Geoff Blethyn kicked 4 of Essendons 8.

Very weird game statistically. Carlon didnt kick a goal in the last quarter but still held on to win.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

 

[Miles Wilks]

He was a great man with a great wit who gave a lot to the club.

Some of that comes through in this interview. Fast forward to about 22 min. into this audio recording.
He goes into some detail about why he was missing for those five games in 1968. "I told Barassi to go and get lost, I wouldn't play.".....

"He wanted me to sprint like a racehorse and I couldn't.".... (due to his injury).

He talks about the importance of Jezza for his game here too. "Without Alex I wouldn't have got a kick."

https://www.wablues.com/media/audio/20230701_breakfast_with_the_blues.mp3

 

[AlecDuncan]

Thanks for breaking our drought Brian. Never got to see the best of him - might have been bigger than Slamming Sam. RIP