Keith Rae (footballer)


Keith Stanley Rae is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton and Richmond in the Victorian Football League.

Biography

Born in Williamstown, he attended Footscray Technical School and did a welding course at the Williamstown Dockyards. He was spotted by Carlton's recruiter Newton Chandler whilst playing for the Williamstown Football Club and was invited to try out for the Carlton team as a wingman or pivot. After playing two games for Carlton in 1939, he was called up by the Navy in 1940 to serve on HMAS Nestor in World War II. In June 1942 Rae was onboard when the Nestor was attacked and sunk. He survived, and returned to Australia in 1943.
After returning to service in 1944 and 1945, he switched to play for Richmond in 1946. Following the death of Ken Feltscheer in December 2017, Rae became the oldest living former VFL footballer. He was also a talented junior cricketer.