O'Keefe Pocketing Rave Reviews

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  • BAM_BAM
    Support Staff
    • Jun 2003
    • 1820

    O'Keefe Pocketing Rave Reviews

    article in todays Telegraph





    O'Keefe pocketing rave reviews
    By Nikki Tugwell
    April 29, 2004

    IT said something of the progress of Ryan O'Keefe that Melbourne coach Neale Daniher sent premier defender Clint Bizzel to mind him in the back pocket on Saturday night.

    O'Keefe, 23, has been something of a hidden treasure buried in the decorated Swans forward line comprising Barry Hall, Nick Davis, Michael O'Loughlin, the explosive Adam Schneider and floating utility Adam Goodes.

    O'Keefe is offering the Swans goal value not unlike Tim Notting, Craig McRae and Ashley McGrath at Brisbane, who spring up when all eyes are on Alastair Lynch, Jonathan Brown, Jason Akermanis and Michael Voss.

    The penetrative left-footer kicked two impressive goals from 45 to 50 metres in three minutes against Melbourne.

    One was disallowed but he finished with two in total for the night.

    "When I first came to the club I was more a backman and I played forward only in the past couple of years," O'Keefe said. "But you float around a bit until you find a spot that suits.

    "And we've got a forward line that can do everything, marking or crumbing and when those guys aren't going to mark it they're going to bring it to ground."

    The Swans' inner sanctum has been impressed this season with O'Keefe, who has accumulated sound statistics for a forward pocket of 32 marks, 64 possessions and five goals while making subtle team structure contributions.

    "He may not kick as many goals as the other forwards but his work is very important in the way our forward line functions and his performance on the weekend was very good." Swans football operations manager Andrew Ireland said.

    "It would be fair to say that we think his form has been very good. He played on a very good player at the weekend and was a really good contributor."

    O'Keefe was an emergency five times last season and started on the bench on 14 occasions but became more impressive as the season rolled on.

    He was one of the best-performed squad members on the track in the pre-season and did extra skills work with Swans captain Stuart Maxfield.

    "You just have to keep improving, you don't want to plateau," O'Keefe said. "Everyone else is improving so it just helps you keep on top of your game.

    "When you're a young player the best thing to do is try and work off these older experienced players who have got a good work ethic like Stuart and blokes like Cressa [Daryn Cresswell] and Schwatta [Wayne Schwass].

    "You see how hard they work and you try and replicate it."

    With O'Loughlin managing a hamstring problem and Barry Hall and now Adam Goodes attracting the brunt of the attention up forward, the opportunity again arises for O'Keefe against Essendon on Saturday afternoon.

    The Daily Telegraph
    Here's my heart and you can break it
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    Love and peace
  • Go Swannies
    Veterans List
    • Sep 2003
    • 5697

    #2
    That's what I've been saying all season. It's just that they have said it better.

    Comment

    • Charlie
      On the Rookie List
      • Jan 2003
      • 4101

      #3
      When does he play his 50th? Is it this week, or next?
      We hate Anthony Rocca
      We hate Shannon Grant too
      We hate scumbag Gaspar
      But Leo WE LOVE YOU!

      Comment

      • NMWBloods
        Taking Refuge!!
        • Jan 2003
        • 15819

        #4
        Originally posted by Charlie
        When does he play his 50th? Is it this week, or next?
        Next week - against Richmond.
        Captain Logic is not steering this tugboat.

        "[T]here are things that matter more and he's reading and thinking about them: heaven, reincarnation. Life and death are the only things that are truly a matter of life and death. Not football."

        Comment

        • hammo
          Veterans List
          • Jul 2003
          • 5554

          #5
          Originally posted by Go Swannies
          That's what I've been saying all season. It's just that they have said it better.
          And some of us were saying it last year! Great player.
          "As everyone knows our style of football is defensive and unattractive, and as such I have completely forgotten how to mark or kick over the years" - Brett Kirk

          Comment

          • Go Swannies
            Veterans List
            • Sep 2003
            • 5697

            #6
            Originally posted by hammo
            And some of us were saying it last year! Great player.
            I reckon Pebbles was good last year but this year he has really stepped up. His marking has been excellent and he's been kicking well too. Jude says he wants to lift a level this year but I think Pebbles already has. (And I was singing his praises after a few good games last year, too.)

            Comment

            • Nico
              Veterans List
              • Jan 2003
              • 11339

              #7
              And he plays well at the G.
              http://www.nostalgiamusic.co.uk/secu...res/srh806.jpg

              Comment

              • sharpie
                On the Rookie List
                • Jul 2003
                • 1588

                #8
                I've been thinking when watching the games this season, that ROK would have to be doing well in the B&F this year, coz I reckon he carries out his instructions to the letter.

                It would require a lot of self-discipline to play his role in a star-studded forward line. His job at times seems to be to offer a dummy lead when the ball is heading towards the forward line so that the rest of the forward 50 (45) is opened up a bit for the key targets, Hall & Goodes, etc.
                Visit my eBay store -

                10% off for mentioning RWO when you buy. Great Christmas presents!

                Comment

                • NMWBloods
                  Taking Refuge!!
                  • Jan 2003
                  • 15819

                  #9
                  In a couple of games (Brisbane and Melbourne) part of his role has been to take their key rebounder away from the action.
                  Captain Logic is not steering this tugboat.

                  "[T]here are things that matter more and he's reading and thinking about them: heaven, reincarnation. Life and death are the only things that are truly a matter of life and death. Not football."

                  Comment

                  • Dpw
                    On the Rookie List
                    • Jan 2003
                    • 829

                    #10
                    Originally posted by sharpie
                    I've been thinking when watching the games this season, that ROK would have to be doing well in the B&F this year, coz I reckon he carries out his instructions to the letter.

                    It would require a lot of self-discipline to play his role in a star-studded forward line. His job at times seems to be to offer a dummy lead when the ball is heading towards the forward line so that the rest of the forward 50 (45) is opened up a bit for the key targets, Hall & Goodes, etc.
                    How the hell would you know what is instructions are?

                    Comment

                    • sharp9
                      Senior Player
                      • Jan 2003
                      • 2508

                      #11
                      Haven't we identified that every player who gets a feature article in any paper is instantaneously mozzed for the following game?

                      Very upset to see someone trying to publicise our secret weapon.
                      "I'll acknowledge there are more talented teams in the competition but I won't acknowledge that there is a better team in the competition" Paul Roos March 2005

                      Comment

                      • dread and might
                        Back, strapped and intact
                        • Apr 2004
                        • 949

                        #12
                        Booming kick too, one of my favourites. he never stops trying. how is he on his right foot?
                        I wish my weed was EMO so it would cut itself

                        Comment

                        • sharpie
                          On the Rookie List
                          • Jul 2003
                          • 1588

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Dpw
                          How the hell would you know what is instructions are?
                          It is an assumption because of the way he plays. Could you have the discipline to continue doing the team thing knowing full well that more often than not no-one is going to honour your lead. Would get pretty tiresome I reckon.
                          Visit my eBay store -

                          10% off for mentioning RWO when you buy. Great Christmas presents!

                          Comment

                          • monopoly19
                            Senior Player
                            • Aug 2003
                            • 1098

                            #14
                            Originally posted by sharp9
                            Haven't we identified that every player who gets a feature article in any paper is instantaneously mozzed for the following game?

                            Very upset to see someone trying to publicise our secret weapon.
                            But then there was that article on Saddo, and he came out and played a blinder against the Kangas.

                            Comment

                            • BAM_BAM
                              Support Staff
                              • Jun 2003
                              • 1820

                              #15
                              Originally posted by NMWBloods
                              Next week - against Richmond.
                              I worked that one out at the beginning of the year (on assumption he'd play every game). If I missed it I wouldn't be a happy camper.


                              I agree with Sharpie, it would be frustrating for him making space and doing the team thing each week, with all of the limelight going to the stars. But his day will come when he is the star and will be rightly recognised as such. (I know it frustrates me)

                              It's been a hard slog for him over the past few years, and if not for his injury in the 2001 final he possibly would have been cemented in the team a little more than he was last year and not just playing his 50th this year. I'm just so happy for him that it looks to be finally coming up trumps.


                              Gemma, make his banner a good one mate
                              Here's my heart and you can break it
                              I need some release, release, release
                              We need
                              Love and peace

                              Comment

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