Rhys O'Keeffe
Encyclopedia
Rhys O'Keeffe is an Australian rules football
er with the Carlton Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
O'Keeffe played his junior years in Adelaide. While nominally a defender, he has gone forward and scored goals in some games. 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. O'Keeffe also represented South Australia at the Under-18s championships in 2008, and was selected in the Under 18s All-Australian team and named as South Australia's MVP for the tournament.
O'Keeffe was selected in the 2008 AFL National Draft
by the Carlton Football Club
with its fifth round selection (#65 overall). His initial two-year contract was ruined by injury. He managed eight games for , 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. 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
(#35 overall).
O'Keeffe had more continuity in 2011, his third season, and he was elevated to the senior list in place of the injured Andrew Collins prior to Round 14, before making his debut that same week.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er with the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
O'Keeffe played his junior years in Adelaide. While nominally a defender, he has gone forward and scored goals in some games. 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. O'Keeffe also represented South Australia at the Under-18s championships in 2008, and was selected in the Under 18s All-Australian team and named as South Australia's MVP for the tournament.
O'Keeffe was selected in the 2008 AFL National Draft
2008 AFL Draft
The 2008 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft...
by the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
with its fifth round selection (#65 overall). His initial two-year contract was ruined by injury. He managed eight games for , the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
, at the start of 2009 before succumbing to osteitis pubis
Osteitis pubis
Since 1924, osteitis pubis has been known as a noninfectious inflammation of the pubis symphysis causing varying degrees of lower abdominal and pelvic pain. Osteitis pubis was first described in patients who had undergone suprapubic surgery and remains a well-known complication of invasive...
, and managed only two VFL games in 2010, with hip and back injuries keeping him out for most of the year. 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
2010 AFL Draft
The 2010 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2010/11 Australian Football League off-season. These are the Trade Week; held between , the National Draft; held on the , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .This is the first national draft to feature the...
(#35 overall).
O'Keeffe had more continuity in 2011, his third season, and he was elevated to the senior list in place of the injured Andrew Collins prior to Round 14, before making his debut that same week.