Champion player in the field of bravery

BRENDAN Keilar's heroic actions to step in and help a woman in distress came as no surprise to his close friends.

BRENDAN Keilar's heroic actions to step in and help a woman in distress came as no surprise to his close friends.

The 43-year-old, whom police have described as brave, was renowned for standing up to the big guys on the football field and in real life.

"He wouldn't have thought twice about it," close friend Craig Thompson said. "If he saw anything he thought to be unjust he would do something about it.

"He wouldn't have thought of the consequences. His first instinct would be to help."

Mr Thompson said he and Mr Keilar played football for the Melbourne University Blacks during the 1980s. "He was one of those cheeky little rovers and he was very quick, often they couldn't catch him," he said.

"When the big blokes went after him, he was not one to back down. And that is indicative of what he did (yesterday)."

Mr Thompson said Mr Keilar's wife, Alice Edwards, was devastated by his death.

"It's very tough on Alice," he said. "She is saying that it is so unfair. She said he has never been happier, with his career going very well and having three beautiful children. They had also recently bought a beach house and were looking forward to spending some time there. She is quite devastated."

Mr Keilar leaves behind three children: Charlie, 8, Lucy, 6 and Phoebe, 4. Mr Thompson said close family were coming to Melbourne from Warrnambool, in the state's west, to be with Alice.

Mr Thompson met Mr Keilar while studying at Melbourne University, after Mr Keilar moved from his family home in Warrnambool to study. They lived at St Hilda's College and played for the university's Blacks team from 1982 to 1990.

"Our nickname for him was Tickets because he had tickets on himself, but he loved it," he said.

Mr Keilar was a partner at the Collins Street commercial law firm Norton Gledhill. But according to Mr Thompson, he had thought about playing football professionally.

"It was pretty tough when you are 5'7" (170cm) and study got in the way. But he certainty had the ability."

The football club, where Mr Keilar was still a member, is planning a tribute.