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Ryan O'Keefe

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Ryan O'Keefe
Ryan O'Keefe playing for Sydney during the 2006 AFL Season
Personal information
Full name Ryan O'Keefe
Date of birth (1981-01-24) 24 January 1981 (age 43)
Original team(s) Strathmore/Calder Cannons
Draft 1999: #56 (Sydney)
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 5
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
Sydney
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Ryan O'Keefe (born 24 January 1981) is an Australian Football League player with the Sydney Swans, and part of the Swans' 2005 premiership-winning side.

O'Keefe was a member of the 2006 All-Australian side and is one of Sydney's key forwards. He is known for his superb fitness and running ability, as well as his strong marking overhead. He is among the very best in the AFL in terms of ground coverage. It is these abilities that have made up for his slight lack of height and speed, which were obstacles early in his career. He is also a terrific left-foot kick, which has served him well since he transformed from a defender to a forward early in his career with the Swans.

Early career

Ryan O'Keefe was educated at St Kevin's College in Melbourne.

He was picked up by Sydney as number 56 in the 1999 AFL Draft. But did not make his mark until season 2004 when shifted from defence to attack.

2005

O'Keefe played all 26 games in Sydney's premiership year of 2005, having a particularly brilliant finals series, and played one of the best games of his career in the Preliminary Final against the Saints. In the same year, he represented Australia in the International Rules series.

2006

In 2006, he made All-Australian selection, and was once again selected to represent Australia in the International Rules series. He had a highly successful series, scoring more points than any other player. He was awarded the Jim Stynes medal for the best Australian player in the series.

He came equal second in the running for the Bob Skilton Medal, which is annually awarded to the Best and Fairest player at the Sydney Swans, to one of the three Co-Captains, Brett Kirk.

2007

O'Keefe backed up his All-Australian form of 2006 with a memorable performance through the 07 season, once again finishing second in the votes for the Bob Skilton medal behind Brett Kirk who also was one of shining lights for the Swans.

2008-2010

After a strong start to the season, increased pressure was placed on O'Keefe following the suspension of troubled forward target Barry Hall. O'Keefe also played for the Victorian team for the one-off match in May, but instead of wearing his normal #5, he wore #1.

Following the 2008 Grand Final, O'Keefe signalled his intentions to continue his career elsewhere, specifically in Victoria - his place of birth, after knocking back an initial three-year contract offer by the Swans. After a suitable swap was not able to be arranged during the AFL's "trade week," however, O'Keefe decided against entering a pre-season draft where three teams outside Victoria had picks before any other Victorian teams. He has recently signed a 4 year contract with the Sydney Swans.

O'Keefe attracted press criticism after making a slow start to the 2009 season, but after moving into a midfield role he performed strongly through the majority of the 2009 season, and was rewarded by being selected as the Bob Skilton medallist for the season.

After a very impressive first month of play in 2010, O'Keefe suffered a concussion against the Brisbane Lions at the SCG which somewhat stalled his season. He also sustained a groin injury later in the year which severely hampered his ability to cover the ground with his elite endurance. Accordingly, he was prevented from spending whole games in the midfield and towards the end of the year he spent more and more time in the forward line. O'Keefe did manage to play some impressive football however, particularly against Hawthorn at the SCG when he blanketed the dangerous Luke Hodge while kicking 4 goals himself (he was awarded 3 Brownlow votes for his game). Since the end of the season, O'Keefe has had groin surgery and will be able to participate in pre-season training.

Career highlights

Season statistics

Year Team Number Games Kicks Handballs Total Disposals Tackles Marks Goals Behinds Goal Accuracy % Brownlow Medal Votes
2000 Sydney 39 5 14 10 24 4 9 1 0 100 0
2001 Sydney 5 13 78 20 98 14 20 6 4 60 0
2002 Sydney 5 9 62 32 94 14 33 12 8 60 2
2003 Sydney 5 16 74 35 109 22 41 17 5 77 1
2004 Sydney 5 24 244 103 347 56 124 33 17 66 2
2005 Sydney 5 26 280 105 385 65 128 31 33 48 7
2006 Sydney 5 25 356 119 475 64 178 32 22 59 5
2007 Sydney 5 23 282 122 404 83 122 23 18 56 2
2008 Sydney 5 23 303 149 452 68 113 23 26 47 10
2009 Sydney 5 22 287 238 525 117 95 13 7 65 11
2010 Sydney 5
2011 Sydney 5
2012 Sydney 5
Totals 164 1693 695 2388 390 768 178 133 57% 29

Personal life

In March 2002, O'Keefe's younger brother was killed in a car accident. On 12 January 2008 O'Keefe married Tara Duggan and together they have a son Levi born 6 September 2009.

References

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