Don Keyter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Don Keyter |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 13 September 1931 | ||
| Date of death | 11 November 1986 (aged 55) | ||
| Original team | Merbein | ||
Don Keyter (born 13 September 1931, died 11 November 1986) was a talented Australian rules footballer. He played for the South Melbourne team in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Don was known for his skills both as a player and later as a successful coach.
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Don Keyter's Football Journey
Don Keyter was a well-known name in Australian rules football. He started his journey playing for the Merbein club before joining the big leagues.
Playing for South Melbourne
Don Keyter joined the South Melbourne team in 1953. He played as a ruckman and a centre half-forward. A ruckman is a tall player who tries to tap the ball down to teammates from a bounce or throw-in. A centre half-forward plays in the forward line, helping to score goals.
Don played 86 games for South Melbourne between 1953 and 1958. He even kicked 81 goals during his time with the team. In 1957, he was chosen to represent Victoria "B" in an interstate game against Tasmania. This showed he was one of the best players around.
A Memorable Goal
One of Don's most exciting moments happened in 1957. South Melbourne was playing against Melbourne, who were the champions at the time. In a very close game, Don kicked a goal right as the siren sounded. This amazing shot, from 30 yards away, gave South Melbourne a four-point win! It was a thrilling end to the game.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing career, Don Keyter became a successful coach. He started coaching in 1959.
Coaching Different Teams
In 1959 and 1960, Don was the captain and coach for the Griffith club in New South Wales. He then coached in the Wimmera Football League. In 1963, he became the coach for the Moe team in the Latrobe Valley Football League. He played well for Moe and even got the most votes for a special award, but he couldn't win it because of a suspension.
Winning Championships
After coaching Moe for another season in 1964, Don took charge of the East Hawthorn team in 1965. Under his coaching, East Hawthorn became very successful. They won three championships in a row! They were champions in 1965, 1966, and 1967. This was a huge achievement and showed his great leadership skills. After his time with East Hawthorn, he went on to coach the Rochester team in 1968.
Don Keyter is remembered as a dedicated player and a winning coach in Australian rules football.
