Kearney came from Geelong College and played in three of the Essendon Association's premierships between 1892 and 1894.
[1] Kearney was the vice-captain of Essendon in his two playing years for the club in the Victorian Football League, 1897 and 1898.
[1][2] He also excelled at tennis, winning the New South Wales Open twice and Victorian Singles title six times.
[1] The Dr Gus Kearney Memorial Prize is still presented annually by Geelong College, to one boy in recognition of "all-round ability and service to the College".
[3] The Prize "was first awarded in 1908 in memory of Dr 'Gus' Kearney, an outstanding sportsman and former captain of the School who died at the young age of thirty-six years in March, 1907.