A strong, dominant, talented, and courageous player, who was able to play hard and well through extreme pain, and always alert to the position of his teammates, his otherwise long and productive VFL career was brought to a sudden end when he was forced to retire after suffering a severe back injury.
[6] Michael was killed, aged 17, when he was hit by a motor-car whilst on a training run in High Street Doncaster (near Curnola Avenue) on Saturday evening 26 June 1971.
[12] A very strong and reliable mark, and a long and accurate left-foot kick, Kekovich made his debut (as did Alex Jesaulenko) for Carlton in Round 1, 1967.
He received four Brownlow Medal votes during the 1968 season; and he was a very significant contributor to Carlton's three-point 1968 Grand Final victory over Essendon: 7.14 (56) to 8.5 (53).
[23] Unable to play in Carlton's match in Adelaide, on the Saturday following the VFL Grand Final, against the 1968 SAFL Premiers, Sturt Football Club,[24] he sought treatment for a severe back injury, and was advised to retire from the game immediately, or risk becoming permanently paralysed.
He had kept the severity and nature of his back ailment to himself, and the Carlton officials were not aware that the courageous and highly motivated Kekovich was secretly receiving extensive treatment, including acupuncture, each week, at his own expense.
[25] Still hoping that he could return to playing senior football with Carlton, he rested, received treatment, and began training as soon as he was able to do so.
He "showed outstanding form" and kicked four goals in the match; and "he reported no ill-effects from the back injury … which he had suffered towards the end of last season".
[29] On 26 June 1969, Kekovich applied for a clearance from Carlton to North Melbourne, on the grounds that he wanted to play with his brother Sam.
Carlton then waited to be fully informed in relation to the true extent of Kekovich's injury, his fitness levels, and their estimation of the likelihood of such an outstanding, talented footballer ever being able to return to top level VFL football once again and, hopefully, play a dominant part in Carlton's on-going future.
In a March pre-season training match against Wangaratta Rovers, playing at full-forward, "Kekovich led well and kicked accurately, finishing with eight goals".