Bob Keddie
Encyclopedia
Bob Keddie is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Hawthorn
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and West Adelaide
, South Adelaide
and Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
Keddie made his debut for Hawthorn in 1965 and in the subsequent seasons became a highly effective half forward flanker for the club. He was Hawthorn's best and fairest winner in 1967 and 1969 and for his performances at the 1969 Adelaide Carnival
for Victoria he earned All Australian selection.
During the 1970 season and kicked 47 goals for the year. He was overshadowed however by teammate Peter Hudson
who managed to kick 146 goals.
In the 1971 VFL Grand Final
against St Kilda the Hawks were down by 20 points when Keddie was pushed to Full Forward (and Hudson to Centre Half Forward). They went on to win the game by seven points with Keddie kicking four final quarter goals and gaining hero status. Interestingly, in the week prior a Church billboard in the teams' eponymous home suburb carried the question "What would you do if Christ came to Hawthorn?", to which some wag had added "Move Peter Hudson to Centre Half-Forward". Thus Hawthorn fans regarded this move, when it actually happened during the game, as a good omen and Bob Keddie as a sort of saviour.
Keddie worked as a Physical Education teacher in the Victorian State School system at Belle Vue State school and is responsible for a strong cadre of "Hawks" from that generation.
Keddie left Hawthorn at the end of the 1972 season and became captain and coach of West Adelaide. Keddie played 18 games, kicking 14 goals and winning their Best and Fairest before moving on to rivals South Adelaide as captain in 1974, playing 53 games, kicking 71 goals and winning South's Best and Fairest in 1975. In 1977 Keddie played a final season with Glenelg, playing seven games and kicking two goals. During this time Keddie also played five games for South Australia, kicking four goals.
In the 1980s Keddie returned to Victoria and coached Sandringham Football Club to the 1985 flag.
He continued his teaching career into the 1980s, teaching primary at Wesley College until 1987. He then moved onto coaching Morningside Football Club in the Queensland State League in the early 90s and then South Launceston Football Club
in the Tasmanian Football League
. This is where his only child Alexandra Jane Keddie was born. He now resides back in Melbourne and is currently teaching at a high school.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
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...
(VFL) and West Adelaide
West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
, South Adelaide
South Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
and Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL).
Keddie made his debut for Hawthorn in 1965 and in the subsequent seasons became a highly effective half forward flanker for the club. He was Hawthorn's best and fairest winner in 1967 and 1969 and for his performances at the 1969 Adelaide Carnival
1969 Adelaide Carnival
The 1969 Adelaide Carnival was the 17th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition....
for Victoria he earned All Australian selection.
During the 1970 season and kicked 47 goals for the year. He was overshadowed however by teammate Peter Hudson
Peter Hudson
Peter John Hudson AM is a former Australian Rules Football player, considered one of the greatest full-forwards in the game's history....
who managed to kick 146 goals.
In the 1971 VFL Grand Final
1971 VFL Grand Final
The 1971 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and St Kilda Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1971. It was the 75th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
against St Kilda the Hawks were down by 20 points when Keddie was pushed to Full Forward (and Hudson to Centre Half Forward). They went on to win the game by seven points with Keddie kicking four final quarter goals and gaining hero status. Interestingly, in the week prior a Church billboard in the teams' eponymous home suburb carried the question "What would you do if Christ came to Hawthorn?", to which some wag had added "Move Peter Hudson to Centre Half-Forward". Thus Hawthorn fans regarded this move, when it actually happened during the game, as a good omen and Bob Keddie as a sort of saviour.
Keddie worked as a Physical Education teacher in the Victorian State School system at Belle Vue State school and is responsible for a strong cadre of "Hawks" from that generation.
Keddie left Hawthorn at the end of the 1972 season and became captain and coach of West Adelaide. Keddie played 18 games, kicking 14 goals and winning their Best and Fairest before moving on to rivals South Adelaide as captain in 1974, playing 53 games, kicking 71 goals and winning South's Best and Fairest in 1975. In 1977 Keddie played a final season with Glenelg, playing seven games and kicking two goals. During this time Keddie also played five games for South Australia, kicking four goals.
In the 1980s Keddie returned to Victoria and coached Sandringham Football Club to the 1985 flag.
He continued his teaching career into the 1980s, teaching primary at Wesley College until 1987. He then moved onto coaching Morningside Football Club in the Queensland State League in the early 90s and then South Launceston Football Club
South Launceston Football Club
The South Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Tasmanian Football League. They were formed through a merger between City-South and East Launceston in 1986, former Northern Tasmanian Football Association clubs...
in the Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
. This is where his only child Alexandra Jane Keddie was born. He now resides back in Melbourne and is currently teaching at a high school.