Denis Kelleher
South Melbourne and Carlton · “Dinny”
AFL career
113 games15 goals
- Debut
- R4 1927 v GEE21 May 1927
- Most recent
- GF 1936 v COL3 Oct 1936
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray League, Denis "Dinny" Kelleher was a colossal figure for his era, weighing in at over 100 kilograms. A powerful follower and ruckman, he initially played more than 50 games for Carlton but was eventually deemed too slow for the Blues' game plan. After a short detour captain-coaching Camperdown in the country, he was thrown a lifeline by South Melbourne in 1933, joining a side that was rapidly assembling a premiership-calibre list.
Kelleher seized his second chance with both hands, becoming the muscle in a skilled lineup that captured the famous 1933 premiership. His physical presence and ability to protect his smaller teammates made him an integral part of the South Melbourne outfit that contested four consecutive Grand Finals between 1933 and 1936. He departed the VFL having transformed himself from a Carlton cast-off into a premiership hero and a key component of one of the league's most dominant eras.
Profile
- Full name
- Dinny Kelleher
- Born
- 22 July 1902
- Died
- 30 May 1963 (aged 60y 312d)
- Birthplace
- Baddaginnie, VIC
- Height
- 187 cm
- Weight
- 101 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership1933
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray League, Denis "Dinny" Kelleher was a colossal figure for his era, weighing in at over 100 kilograms. A powerful follower and ruckman, he initially played more than 50 games for Carlton but was eventually deemed too slow for the Blues' game plan. After a short detour captain-coaching Camperdown in the country, he was thrown a lifeline by South Melbourne in 1933, joining a side that was rapidly assembling a premiership-calibre list.
Kelleher seized his second chance with both hands, becoming the muscle in a skilled lineup that captured the famous 1933 premiership. His physical presence and ability to protect his smaller teammates made him an integral part of the South Melbourne outfit that contested four consecutive Grand Finals between 1933 and 1936. He departed the VFL having transformed himself from a Carlton cast-off into a premiership hero and a key component of one of the league's most dominant eras.