Peter Keenan
Encyclopedia
Peter 'Crackers' Keenan (born 7 April 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne
, Essendon
and North Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
during the 1970s.
Keenan played as a 197 cm ruckman and was a solid marker of the ball as well as having a good drop punt. He was recruited from Assumption College
by Melbourne for whom he made his VFL debut in 1970.
After playing 101 games for Melbourne in six seasons he signed for North Melbourne, a club who had just won the premiership. Apart from having the chance to play regular finals football he had also been tempted to the club by the coach, Ron Barassi. He was North Melbourne's first ruckman in their 1977 premiership team but was unable to play in another grand final the following season as he had been suspended; he is depicted being reported by an umpire in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.
The 1979 and 1980 seasons where spent with Essendon before he returned to his original team, Melbourne, who had also acquired his premiership coach, Ron Barassi. After retiring as a player he became an Australian rules media commentator.
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
during the 1970s.
Keenan played as a 197 cm ruckman and was a solid marker of the ball as well as having a good drop punt. He was recruited from Assumption College
Assumption College, Kilmore
Assumption College is a Roman Catholic, secondary, co-educational, day and Boarding school, located in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia.Founded in 1893, the college first took boarders in 1901, and was a boys' school until 1982, when it became coeducational. The current principal is Mr...
by Melbourne for whom he made his VFL debut in 1970.
After playing 101 games for Melbourne in six seasons he signed for North Melbourne, a club who had just won the premiership. Apart from having the chance to play regular finals football he had also been tempted to the club by the coach, Ron Barassi. He was North Melbourne's first ruckman in their 1977 premiership team but was unable to play in another grand final the following season as he had been suspended; he is depicted being reported by an umpire in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.
The 1979 and 1980 seasons where spent with Essendon before he returned to his original team, Melbourne, who had also acquired his premiership coach, Ron Barassi. After retiring as a player he became an Australian rules media commentator.