[3] Kelleher then played with Benalla in the Ovens and Murray Football League in 1922[4] and 1923, gaining selection in the OMFL team against the VFL in 1923.
[9] Carlton initially tried to recruit Kelleher in 1925, after he was spotted playing for Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray Football League.
Kelleher was the first big name Melbourne footballer to be recruited by a team in the Hampden League.
[14] He Returned to Carlton in 1933 but only managed to play a few games in the seconds before South Melbourne recruited him.
A solid 101 kg follower, Kelleher was a member of South's three unsuccessful VFL grand finals sides of 1934, 1935, and 1936.