Kinnear played amateur football in Melbourne during the 1960s through University High School Old Boys until two knee operations forced him into premature retirement, leading to his first taste of coaching and also premiership success.
However, Kinnear was an outstanding cricketer too, initially taking him to London, after his football playing career ended, amid a stint for Middlesex Second XI.
He then joined Carlton in 1984, steering its reserves to premierships in 1986 and 1987 among four consecutive grand finals.
He was also assistant coach of Carlton's seniors during this period and helped them to the 1987 VFL premiership.
In 1989, he replaced Tom Hafey as coach of the Sydney Swans and the club finished a respectable seventh in his first year in charge.