Australian Football

Mick Keighery arrived at Fitzroy in May 1939 from Leongatha, having been recommended by a former premiership Royboy, Charlie Norris, who had seen him notch up a dozen goals in a match. Keighery had been starring at full forward for Leongatha, the 12-goal haul part of a run of 55 goals in his previous six matches. 

Upon his arrival at Fitzroy, Keighery immediately impressed the Roys' coach Gordon Rattray in training sessions at Brunswick Street Oval, and he was cleared from his Gippsland team. He played a number of seconds matches before being elevated to the Fitzroy senior side for an exhibition match played at Bendigo against Footscray July 29¹. Stationed on a wing in the Bendigo match, Keighery's performance drew praise from club officials who suggested that he could be another Ron Cooper (a champion centreman/rover at Carlton). 

Despite those glowing reports, Keighery remained a reserves player (although he was listed as an emergency for the senior side several times) before finally making his VFL debut as a late replacement for Noel Price in the final round of the 1939 season, named at centre-half forward. The Roys were soundly beaten by Melbourne in that match, and Keighery failed to make it to the best players list.

Whether by his choice or Fitzroy's, Keighery found himself back at Leongatha the following season, who welcomed his return. In his first game back with his old side, he kicked seven goals, with his brother Ned kicking three in a win over Mirboo North. Leongatha went onto win that year's premiership, with Keighery named in the best players in his side's Grand Final defeat of Morwell. 

Keighery's one appearance with Fitzroy qualifies him as an inductee of the 'one V/AFL game' club, of which there are over 1,000 members.

Author - Andrew Gigacz