Keith Drinan
Encyclopedia
Keith Francis James Drinan (13 November 1924 – 11 August 2004) was a former Australian rules football
er in the VFL
.
Drinan, who served with the Royal Australian Navy
during the war, played for St Kilda initially as Half-back flank then Centre Half-Back before establishing himself as a great full back. Won the club's Best and fairest
twice and was captain for a total of five years (Les Foote
was captain-coach in between Drinan's two stints). He wore number 25 and later coached Yarraville (in 1961).
After his passing, Neil Roberts said "Keith was a tough, underrated and inspiring leader in every way and it was a pleasure to play under him. He regularly kept the great John Coleman to less than two goals a game."
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 in the VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
.
Drinan, who served with the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
during the war, played for St Kilda initially as Half-back flank then Centre Half-Back before establishing himself as a great full back. Won the club's Best and fairest
Trevor Barker Award
The Trevor Barker Award is an Australian rules football award for the player voted the St Kilda Football Club Club Champion during the home and away season in the Australian Football League by a voting panel....
twice and was captain for a total of five years (Les Foote
Les Foote
Leslie Roy Foote was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.-Football career:A local lad, and recruited from the North Melbourne Colts, Foote played his first match with the North Melbourne Football Club in 1941 at just 16 years of age.He was able to kick equally well with...
was captain-coach in between Drinan's two stints). He wore number 25 and later coached Yarraville (in 1961).
After his passing, Neil Roberts said "Keith was a tough, underrated and inspiring leader in every way and it was a pleasure to play under him. He regularly kept the great John Coleman to less than two goals a game."