Predominantly a back pocket or half-back flanker, Keane later showed his versatility by frequently playing as a ruck-rover.
He was generally regarded as one of the most underrated players in the VFL, and did not poll a Brownlow Medal vote in his first ten seasons.
In the Grand Final Keane had 27 possessions and kicked two fine goals, but his 1981 season was wiped out by a serious knee injury requiring a reconstruction.
Keane then served as an assistant to his old teammate Kevin Sheedy at Essendon for a few years during the early 1990s,[3] before taking the reins at TAC Cup side the Western Jets.
At the Jets, Keane played a key role in the development of such players as Brad Johnson[5] before being appointed to coach a Williamstown club that had finished with a winless record in the same season Sturt did in the SANFL.