Career
Beckwith"s father, Wally Beckwith, was a VFL player for Fitzroy and was also a VFL umpire. Beckwith made his debut in round one against Essendon at Windy Hill. Essendon had been premiers the previous year and as such it was the unfurling of the 1950 premiership flag.
The players had to line up, and General Sir Dallas Brooks, the Governor of Victoria, came past
Beckwith was only 19 years of age, and meeting the governor as well as playing his first game of VFL football was a nerve-wracking experience, although he did end up kicking a goal. Beckwith spent five years as captain-coach of Colac Football Club in the Hampden Football League from 1961–1965.
Beckwith was an assistant coach at Melbourne in 1966. He coached Melbourne from 1967 to 1970 for 19 wins and 46 losses.
He was named in the back pocket in Melbourne "Team of the Century".
