Lachlan Keefe

[Pera]

Just don't see it happening as a key backman. We have played him against GWS, the Dogs and Melbourne - all sides that don't really have a good key position forward and he looked well out of his depth. Hoping he turns it around of course but needs to add a string to his bow.

 

[MarkT2]

He doesn't seem to have advanced much in 12 months. Last pre season I liked the fact he was young, tall and could clunk a mark. He hasn't shown that for a while. I wouldn't write him off as a ruckman yet though. If he has good hands around the ground he has plenty of time to work out how to be an AFL ruckman. It's a cliche but they do take time.

 

[loki04]

As someone else put he is is too timid, avoids contact.

 

[4#Didak#4]

I think everyone is just a little frustrated at his development. We must remember big guys take longer and Keefe was late to the game so will be longer again.

At the moment he doesn't seem to have nailed a position. I think he can be a key back but he needs another year in VFL. He is an athlete, but his problem is reading the play. When he has the confidence to read the play and go for his marks etc he will be an imposing force.

He has the size of a ruckman but I think the club believes he is athelitc enough to play a KPP so will wait and see if this is the case.

It would have been great if he could step up this year but we will have to wait.

 

[Thommo 42]

The guy is only 21 and hadn't played a game before he was 18.

Lets give him a bit more time to develop! I think he is going exceptionally well considering these factors.

He'd be playing AFL footy at quite a few clubs as a KPD already, but at the Pies he's had 2 AA defenders in front of him last season and now also has N.Brown to contend with.

His form in the 2011 NAB Cup was excellent, but he did look out of sorts as a KPF in the season proper.

 

[MagpieJoel]

Must admit, watching him run around in space the other night and then seeing the ball kicked over his head to his man, made me question whether he will have a long career.

I'm willing to give him more time, but being caught a fair distance from your man a fair few times is pretty basic stuff.

 

[Matz]

My guess is if they say next years draft runs deep, keefe , stubbs and farmer will get dropped in my op.

 

[Old Spice]

Fine.

Send him to North.

Pretty light on for ruck options at Arden Street at the minute?

His kicking is undoubtedly a weapon. But unless he can play 2nd ruck I struggle to see him making it.

I think this is a fair point. Could be very handy if he could 2nd ruck, the stocks would rise sharply. Haven't seen any pics at training of him competing in the ruck so doesn't seem likely. He should chase down whoever our ruck coach is now and Bucks to learn the craft.

Haven't seen a NAB game this year, but to me he looked okay in last years NAB as a defender. Think we need patience with the big man but he needs to go over and beyond to expand his repertoire, very fringey now.

 

[jackcass]

I'm sure he's not unco!

It more looks he's still learning awareness and quick decisive decision making to me, he looks in two minds too often.

That's just the perception I get watching him, so might be completely wrong of course

I think it's this that perhaps makes him look slow at times, because he definitely isn't slow when sprinting, he's quick.

Sure he'll be OK and potentially very OK

Agree Swooop, plays like someone who is new to the game and the more pressure he's under, the more he struggles. At 204cm with his attributes and lack of footy exposure, certainly worth perservereing with.

 

[tonkapies]

not taking any names but the geniuses that all bagged keefe know jack about footy.
I wonder if bucks thinks the same..

The amount of footy that went through keefe on the switch transition tells me that buckley has spent a shit load of time with keefe. Safe mark, big kick, tall player that commands the opposition to pick lop sided unbalanced teams, Will play 150 games no problems.

 

[Obese Arachnid]

From watching the NAB cup game from last night.....
Keefe will not get a game this year. Or shouldn't.
I'm not doubting that he might b good in a few years... But he's just...


... Unco


Would prefer Hartley playing KPD than Keefe

Anyone who is 204cm playing a full time back role will look unco below their knees a bit. That is not his problem, it's his reading of the play & body positioning that is his downfall. That is the area he seems to have stagnated IMO. U.S Shae has improved more than Keefe in a similar (less?)period of time.

Whoever said he's not fast, he's got plenty of pace for a GUY his SIZE. He doesn't have a "feel" for the game so doesn't back himself in. That's what makes him slow sometimes. He second guesses the "stay back" or back himself in. Which quite often lands him in no mans' land.

 

[esc0bar]

n
The amount of footy that went through keefe on the switch transition tells me that buckley has spent a shit load of time with keefe. Safe mark, big kick, tall player that commands the opposition to pick lop sided unbalanced teams, Will play 150 games no problems.

Like this comment alot. It seems Keefe is being shoved into the same category as those who have came before him - Reid, Obrien and Toovey come to mind. Certainly a huge upside and as i said before our development team is the best in the league. If anyone can teach someone to play our game it will be them. You guys need to relax and stop eating our own with pessimistic outlooks. Observe what is going on around you - not just what's in front.

 

[Slattery_20]

Doesnt look like he'll make it

Tend to agree, right at this point, but what did anyone think of Leigh Brown when he was a "younger" guy?... ie his first 150-odd games with Freo then North.

I know I didn't think much of him.

Keeffe's only 22 odd, going into his 2nd or 3rd year on a list.
Methinks the expectations went up, after looking good in the VFL last year, a bit too high. Give him a bit more development time, and have another look at the top level after another 6 months, see what he offers 2nd time around. Can be a different player altogether.

 

[Gyroscope_182]

Is everyone here being serious????

Keefe has played a few very handy AFL games...and if you are saying he should be delisted, is crap, is Guy Richards from a NAB Cup game, then get real!!!

Does that mean NAB Cup performers from the past two weeks should be given five year multi-million dollar contracts because they played a good couple games...like James Magner for example!!!

Keefe is structurally as important to Collingwood as any other side in the competition. He has contributed at AFL level as a forward, has enough size to play in the ruck, and has performed very well at reserves level in defence.

And don't forget...he has played only 5 games, and all those have been in wins...he is not a ruckman...he is a dual KPP.

 

[joefootylover]

I am a bit a quid each way with Keefe;

FIRST: The ONLY players who are YOUNGER than him that have played more games are Sidebottom, Blair and Fasalo. Now he is 204cm and they are all smalls, that should tell you something about where our expectations are for a bloke who is still only 21 years old.

BUT: We have dibs on Stewart, Hartley looks a natrual player, Darcy Moore will be on our list in a few years... basically, Reid, Brown, Dawes, Cloke and Wood are all young, they all have five years or more ahead of them as AFL footballers, so it's pretty clear just how good you will have to be to break into that lineup as anything other than a pinch hitter covering injury. Long story short, Keefe's time could simply run out.

 

[iGNITER]

I hope he proves all the doubters on this board wrong. Myself included.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Keeffe is structurally as important to Collingwood as any other side in the competition.

Erm, no. Generally, you'll find each team's most structurally crucial personnel play during the H&A season.

 

[Ed D]

Just don't see it happening as a key backman. We have played him against GWS, the Dogs and Melbourne - all sides that don't really have a good key position forward and he looked well out of his depth. Hoping he turns it around of course but needs to add a string to his bow.

I don't get the logic in this. You say he's played games against teams where he hasn't had a suitable match up and then say he's out of his depth. Maybe we need to see him play on a slower tall forward and see how he goes?

 

[pauly_moss]

I'm confused I thought he was good against Melbourne.

Sorry if not linking this right but from the Collingwood website....

"Keeffe played a total of 104 minutes of game time on Saturday night and restricted his opponents to only seven contested disposals and two goals. The biggest chunk of his night saw him pitted against Melbourne utility Stefan Martin (41 minutes). He held him to two disposals and one goal in 41 minutes while winning five touches and four marks of his own. He also had a 35-minute stint on Jack Watts where he again finished on top with nine disposals to Watts’ three"

 

[Knightmare]

Just hasn't developed over the past year and a bit as expected which has been disappointing. It looks clear watching him this NAB Cup that he isn't going to develop into a key defender so time to try something new. Just gets outbodied too easily, looks slow and clearly lacks agility and doesn't have the awareness down.

We need a ruckman. So let's try him in that rotational ruck/fwd role. Kicking on goal looked ok when he got the opportunity last year at AFL level and poses some threat with his height as a potential marking target, so let's change it up and see if he can respond in a different role.

I'd rather N.Brown and Hartley as our long term 2nd + 3rd key defenders behind Ben Reid.

But through the ruck with less clarity as to whether any of our young rucks will make the grade, there is still time for Keeffe to show something and develop there.

 

[Pera]

I don't get the logic in this. You say he's played games against teams where he hasn't had a suitable match up and then say he's out of his depth. Maybe we need to see him play on a slower tall forward and see how he goes?

I never said he didnt have a suitable match up in those games. He was playing at CHB, on a young GWS kid (dont have his name) that consistently outbodied him. His defensive work was poor against the Dogs also. Both these sides didn't have any real fire power at CHF or FF and yet, he still struggled to hold up his position.

The guys he played on should have been perfect for him. Not overly quick, raw, and well below him in kg's and probably strength. I haven't written him off yet but these are the games where he needs to show something, like last years pre season. Has he gone backwards? Not quite, but I definitely had higher hopes after last years pre season compared to now.

 

[Ed D]

I never said he didnt have a suitable match up in those games. He was playing at CHB, on a young GWS kid (dont have his name) that consistently outbodied him. His defensive work was poor against the Dogs also. Both these sides didn't have any real fire power at CHF or FF and yet, he still struggled to hold up his position.

The guys he played on should have been perfect for him. Not overly quick, raw, and well below him in kg's and probably strength. I haven't written him off yet but these are the games where he needs to show something, like last years pre season. Has he gone backwards? Not quite, but I definitely had higher hopes after last years pre season compared to now.

Sorry, I must have misread what you wrote.

I agree, that he should have improved on last season, but to me it looks like he's struggling mentally out there, at least in the 1st round. I thought he was ok the 2nd game so I don't understand everyone's criticism of him.

 

[kevind]

I would like to see Keefe used as a FF in the NAB CUP. It gives him a chance to play in a simple position where he can be proactive with an opponent rather than reactive. He can mark and kick well so he has the tools and would present a difficult match up.

I am not sold on Chris Dawes as our long term FF, due to his lower than average overhead marking ability, his lack of being able to jump at the ball in marking contests, thus producing crumbs for the small guys, and his very low goal average.

Yes he is excellent as a team player with the 1%ers,but he is hardly likely to improve his marking ability to any great degree, or his goal average.

 

[Pera]

I'd give him Tippett this week Ed (assuming he plays). Good sized match up for him and if he does well, his confidence will improve and that could do wonders. I tend to agree it's a mental thing with Keefey.

 

[millsy29gopies]

I really want to see him do well, but he just looks so awkward out there on the field.

Yes I know he's only 21 and started playing footy at 18 but you would have thought he'd be starting to get into the game. Even Shae Mac looks more comfortable than him!

I do want him to play the Leigh Brown role but I don't know. Still not going to write him off just yet, but jeez he has to improve.