However, it would come to a sour end; in a semi-final loss against arch-rivals Hawthorn marred by some violent incidents, Keenan was reported in the last quarter for striking Hawks captain Don Scott.
[2] Keenan pleaded "guilty under duress", claiming he had lashed out because Scott had kneed him in a part of the lower back which had become arthritic since falling off a horse four years prior.
In spite of his emotional plea for clemency, the VFL Tribunal handed Keenan a two-match suspension,[3] which ruled him out of the Grand Final.
He is depicted being reported by an umpire in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.
[4] The 1979 and 1980 seasons were spent with Essendon before he returned to his original team, Melbourne, who had also acquired his premiership coach, Ron Barassi.