R. Okeefe - How long is he contracted?

[Wazza]

O'keef has had a great year probably our most improved, how much better is he going to be?

Does anyone know how long he is contracted for? does he want to return to Melb?

Cheers

Waz

[robbieando]

I know he signed a new contract at the end of last season, but I can't remember if it was a 2 or 3 year deal. Regardless he is under contract for next season and he in the past he has said he is more than happy to stay at the club and Sydney.

So fear not, he won't be leaving off his own bat this off season.

[stellation]

For Ryan's sake I hope he signed for 2, for the club's coffers you'd hope he signed for 3

[BonBon]

Knowing how devoted I am, I hope he is signed for his whole life. Yes - he has improved ALOT. He I guess was a bit of a nobody when he first started and now look @ him!

[hammo]

Whatever the situation the club should be looking to sign him up long term.

Hopefully he'll be a Swan for life.

[Kallias]

ROK - future leader

Roosy and Stuey were on White Line Fever last night on Fox, and Stuey tipped Ryan to be a future leader at the club. So it sounds like he's not going anywhere for a while.

[Tilt]

Its been great to watch ROK this year, he's really made a major impact against a lot of sides.

Hopefully he will be with us for years to come.

[BonBon]

He only started not long ago and I dont think the swans can afford to give him away or for him to retire etc. What about all those players who are still playing now and are in their early 30's? Ryano's latest milestone was his 50th on Mothers Day and other players have played their 150th/200th etc so I don't want Ryano to go JUST YET

[Schneiderman]

For what its worth, the last two years before this one, when he was in and out of the side, we used to sit near him in one of the corporate boxes at the SCG.

He was the only player who actually watched the game and got into it like a fan. The rest always looked bored, tired or "indifferent" and spent more time chatting up the girls.

Pebbles always looked like he was desperate to be out there. That indicates to me that he wants to play for Sydney, and will stick with it while we give him game time. It also means that he will commit to any team, so its better if he is in ours.

[BAM_BAM]

I think he signed last year for two (this being the first). From all reports he's bought a house with his girlfriend and is quite happy to stay in Sydney. And I hope he does. He's been reported as saying that he wants to stay here and has sought Maxfield out as someone to learn from. He also has had kind words to the same effect for Leo Barry.

There was also a post (sorry I haven't gone back to find it) after the B&F last year about how he was disappointed of all the talk of his wanting go home. He's one who I think will become an even bigger cog in Sydneys game plan as his experience grows and one who is committed and down to earth enough to become a future leader of the team.

I know what you mean Schneiderman about watching the game. We could easily see him from where we sit and from what we saw, he did watch the games intently. Also he's the only senior player (in the current line up) who was always SCREAMING for the ball while playing in the ressies last year while he was finding his form.

[Wazza]

Wow thats great news Bam Bam I bet there will be plenty of Vic clubs lining up next year though hopefully we move early next year and sign him for another 2- 3.

If he improves again next year what would he be priced at given Judes value 300+ ?

Cheers

Waz

[Snowy]

was very impressive on Before the Game on Saturday night My female friends think he is very sexy.

[liz]

I remember watching a documentary a couple of years back - can't remember what it was called or exactly when I saw it - that was profiling some recently drafted players.

There was a story on one of the 'Ezras' who was drafted the same year as O'Keefe, telling how he had been living with the O'Keefe family that year to enable him to play TAC Cup. He was a fairly flashy player, was attracting a lot of attention from AFL club recruiters, and was tipped to go fairly early in the draft.

The story mentioned the anguish of 17yo O'Keefe living in the same household and also desperate to get drafted but not attracting anything like the same attention. It mentioned how, even at that age, his work ethic was excellent as he attempted to overcome his lack of any flashy, stand-out attributes that would attract the attention of the scouts.

Shows how much more important work ethic and determination is at the top level than natural flashy talent, given that the housemate lasted only a couple of years in the AFL system while "our" Ryan is looking at a top 5 finish in a finals team B&F this year.

[Ruda Wakening]

I remember something about that too.

It was Ezra Bray. Ryans mum was saying about how every AFL player agent who went to the house, went to talk to Ezra who was a certainty to be picked up. He ended up going home to Darwin for the actual draft day because he didn't want to be at the O'Keefe house if Ryan wasn't picked.

Ezra was picked up at No.17 by Geelong and then dumped in 2001 and was then picked up and dumped by Carlton.

Funny how things do a complete circle. Ryans very settled and playing finals .... Ezras back in Darwin!

EDIT

Found the link.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/18/1058035200874.html

[BAM_BAM]

you just beat me to it

the original thread link is below

http://redandwhiteonline.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1881&highlight=ryan+okeefe