Rhys O'Keeffe

Rhys O'Keeffe (born 8 August 1990) is a former professional Australian rules footballer with the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Rhys O'Keeffe
Personal information
Full name Rhys O'Keeffe
Date of birth (1990-08-08) 8 August 1990
Original team(s) North Adelaide (SANFL)
Draft No. 65, 2008 National Draft, Carlton
No. 35, 2011 Rookie Draft, Carlton
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2011–2012 Carlton 3 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2013.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

O'Keeffe played his junior years in Adelaide, nominally as a defender. He joined the North Adelaide Football Club in 2006 to play under-17s, and by the end of 2008 had played a handful of senior games. He also represented South Australia at the Under-18s championships in 2008, and was selected in the Under 18s All-Australian team[1] and named as South Australia's MVP for the tournament.[2]

O'Keeffe was selected in the 2008 AFL National Draft by the Carlton Football Club with its fifth round selection (No. 65 overall).[1] His initial two-year contract was ruined by injury. He managed eight games for VFL-affiliate, the Northern Bullants, at the start of 2009 before succumbing to osteitis pubis, and managed only two VFL games in 2010, with hip and back injuries keeping him out for most of the year.[3][4][5] At the end of two years, with almost no senior football to base its decision on, Carlton opted to move O'Keeffe to the rookie list; due to AFL list management procedures, this was achieved by first delisting O'Keeffe, then re-drafting him in the second round of the 2011 rookie draft (No. 35 overall).[6]

O'Keeffe had more continuity in 2011, his third season, playing the full season for the Bullants.[7] He was elevated to Carlton's senior list in place of the injured Andrew Collins prior to Round 14,[8] and made his first AFL appearance that same week, his only for the 2011 season. He missed the first half of the 2012 season with a foot injury, and played a further two AFL matches.[9] He was retained on Carlton's rookie list for 2013.[9]

After three matches in five seasons, O'Keeffe was delisted at the end of the 2013 season.[10] He will return to North Adelaide in the SANFL from 2014.[11]

References
  1. "Selection 65: Rhys O'Keeffe". afl.com.au.
  2. "Talent manager predicts bumper 2009 AFL draft". heraldsun.com.au.
  3. "Rhys O'Keefe (sic)". Sportingpulse. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  4. "Rhys O'Keeffe Player Profile bio". Carlton Football Club. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  5. "Rhys O'Keeffe". Blueseum. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  6. "Blues finalise playing list for 2011". Carlton Football Club. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  7. "Statistics for Northern Bullants playing VFL seniors". Sportingpulse. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  8. "Rhys named in Blues' squad". Carlton Football Club. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  9. de Bolfo, Tony (16 October 2012). "Carlton locks in O'Keeffe". Carlton Football Club. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  10. Sam Edmund (19 September 2013). "Carlton Blues coach Mick Malthouse has delisted eight players including Aaron Joseph and Luke Mitchell". Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  11. Reece Homfray (1 December 2013). "Jimmy Allen won't return to North Adelaide". The Advertiser. Adelaide, SA. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
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