Ryan O'Keefe
| Ryan O'Keefe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Ryan O'Keefe playing for Sydney
during the 2006 AFL Season |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ryan O'Keefe | ||
| Date of birth | 24 January 1981 | ||
| Original team(s) | Calder Cannons (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | No. 56, 1999 National Draft, Sydney | ||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2000–2014 | Sydney | 286 (261) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 2008 | Victoria | 1 (1) | |
| International team honours | |||
| 2005–2006 | Australia | 4 (0) | |
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 4, 2014.
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| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Ryan O'Keefe (born 24 January 1981) is a former professional Australian rules footballer with the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL), and was part of the Swans' 2005 and 2012 premiership-winning sides.
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.
In 2015 Ryan began his coaching career as a midfield development coach with Adelaide.
Ryan O'Keefe was educated at St Kevin's College in Melbourne, where he was the football team captain. He played for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup. In 1999, Ezra Bray lived with O'Keefe's family whilst on an AFL scholarship to attend Essendon Keilor College.
O'Keefe was drafted in the 1999 AFL Draft with the 56th selection.
In 2002, O'Keefe's younger brother Aaron died in a car accident. His family had lost another son at nine months of age to sudden infant death syndrome when Ryan was 5 years old. He also has a younger sister and brother. His father Brian played football for Fitzroy reserves and his grandfather Lionel Ryan played for Footscray in the 1950s.
O'Keefe struggled to maintain his place in the Sydney side in his first few years at the club, but his form improved when he concentrated more on running and less on weight training. He also shifted from defence to a midfield and attack role.
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