Kellaway: Tiger, Tiger shining bright
Herald Sun, Mike Sheahan - Saturday 18 June 1994
IF you’re not Duncan Kellaway, which is highly likely, read on, please. Duncan, put the paper aside ‘til tomorrow; match-day stories have a history of mozzing their subjects.
They say young Kellaway is unflappable; unfussed by any obstacle on or off the field, but modern football is about minimising risks.
You can tell that they like Kellaway at Richmond. He has been around the place for years, originally in a schoolboy squad before graduating to the under 19s, then the reserves and finally the senior team.
He and Matthew Richardson made their debut on the same day, the seventh round clash with St Kilda at the MCG last year, when Kellaway amassed 27 possessions.
He was overshadowed by the exciting Richardson that day; Richardson was in the reserves on Monday, the day Kellaway played a big part in the club’s rousing win over Collingwood in front of 62,000 people at the MCG.
Those in high places at Punt Road liked him so much this year, they gave him the No. 3 guernsey worn by former captain and premiership rover Dale Weightman.
They have played him on opponents including Chris Grant (Footscray), Peter Sumich (West Coast), Dale Lewis (Sydney), Earl Spalding and Greg Williams (Carlton), Gary Ablett (Geelong) and Nathan Buckley (Collingwood).
As Richmond’s State League coach and former Hawthorn premiership player Peter Schwab said yesterday: “We’ve given him some terrible jobs.”
He has beaten some, lost to a few, broken even with others. What has been consistent is his readiness to tackle the tasks, and his application and endeavour.
It’s back to the MCG this afternoon for North Melbourne. His assignment is likely to be Wayne Schwass, North vice-captain and most dynamic player in the absence of the suspended Wayne Carey.
If it’s not Schwass, it will be one of North’s most dangerous forwards: McAdam, Crocker or Campbell.
I like stories about young men like Kellaway, from suburban Glen Waverley and Caulfield Grammar, a boy who seems to believe there is only one thing better than playing football, and that’s playing again the following week.
The people of Punt Road talk of him as the ideal young man around a footy club. Pity about his kicking, but who’s perfect?
The irony of his kicking is that his uncle, Annette Kellaway’s brother, is John Beckwith, the former Melbourne captain who could land the ball on an orange peel.
Schwab told Kellaway last year: “The only thing that will stop you is your kicking.” To the surprise of no one, Kellaway immediately started remedial work under Schwab.
Schwab was the ideal teacher, a man who fashioned himself into a most competent player, one capable of becoming whatever Hawthorn needed during his time during the most successful club era in AFL history.
“He’ll hit his target seven out of 10 now,” Schwab said yesterday.
Schwab described him as “supertough”, likening him to former champion Hawthorn and Footscray centreman Terry Wallace.
“He’s one of the most courageous players I’ve seen”, Schwab said.
Little wonder then that Francis Bourke, chairman of selectors and former champion and inspiration, is such a fan. Richmond’s Doug Vickers said: “Francis just loves him.
“If you beat him, you beat him. I remember watching him in the under 19s. He’d get a blood nose every week; you just had to love him.
'He's never a problem. Even when he tries a pair of boots on, he'll say 'they're right' even if they're not perfect.'
It seems that Kellaway, 21, has thrilled everyone with his progress, from the Richmond hierarchy, to 3AW commentator and former coach Kevin Bartlett, to family friends.
Herald Sun, Mike Sheahan - Saturday 18 June 1994
IF you’re not Duncan Kellaway, which is highly likely, read on, please. Duncan, put the paper aside ‘til tomorrow; match-day stories have a history of mozzing their subjects.
They say young Kellaway is unflappable; unfussed by any obstacle on or off the field, but modern football is about minimising risks.
You can tell that they like Kellaway at Richmond. He has been around the place for years, originally in a schoolboy squad before graduating to the under 19s, then the reserves and finally the senior team.
He and Matthew Richardson made their debut on the same day, the seventh round clash with St Kilda at the MCG last year, when Kellaway amassed 27 possessions.
He was overshadowed by the exciting Richardson that day; Richardson was in the reserves on Monday, the day Kellaway played a big part in the club’s rousing win over Collingwood in front of 62,000 people at the MCG.
Those in high places at Punt Road liked him so much this year, they gave him the No. 3 guernsey worn by former captain and premiership rover Dale Weightman.
They have played him on opponents including Chris Grant (Footscray), Peter Sumich (West Coast), Dale Lewis (Sydney), Earl Spalding and Greg Williams (Carlton), Gary Ablett (Geelong) and Nathan Buckley (Collingwood).
As Richmond’s State League coach and former Hawthorn premiership player Peter Schwab said yesterday: “We’ve given him some terrible jobs.”
He has beaten some, lost to a few, broken even with others. What has been consistent is his readiness to tackle the tasks, and his application and endeavour.
It’s back to the MCG this afternoon for North Melbourne. His assignment is likely to be Wayne Schwass, North vice-captain and most dynamic player in the absence of the suspended Wayne Carey.
If it’s not Schwass, it will be one of North’s most dangerous forwards: McAdam, Crocker or Campbell.
I like stories about young men like Kellaway, from suburban Glen Waverley and Caulfield Grammar, a boy who seems to believe there is only one thing better than playing football, and that’s playing again the following week.
The people of Punt Road talk of him as the ideal young man around a footy club. Pity about his kicking, but who’s perfect?
The irony of his kicking is that his uncle, Annette Kellaway’s brother, is John Beckwith, the former Melbourne captain who could land the ball on an orange peel.
Schwab told Kellaway last year: “The only thing that will stop you is your kicking.” To the surprise of no one, Kellaway immediately started remedial work under Schwab.
Schwab was the ideal teacher, a man who fashioned himself into a most competent player, one capable of becoming whatever Hawthorn needed during his time during the most successful club era in AFL history.
“He’ll hit his target seven out of 10 now,” Schwab said yesterday.
Schwab described him as “supertough”, likening him to former champion Hawthorn and Footscray centreman Terry Wallace.
“He’s one of the most courageous players I’ve seen”, Schwab said.
Little wonder then that Francis Bourke, chairman of selectors and former champion and inspiration, is such a fan. Richmond’s Doug Vickers said: “Francis just loves him.
“If you beat him, you beat him. I remember watching him in the under 19s. He’d get a blood nose every week; you just had to love him.
'He's never a problem. Even when he tries a pair of boots on, he'll say 'they're right' even if they're not perfect.'
It seems that Kellaway, 21, has thrilled everyone with his progress, from the Richmond hierarchy, to 3AW commentator and former coach Kevin Bartlett, to family friends.
