Toast Lachlan Keeffe

[Markfs]

I felt the need to put up a thread to specifically toast this guy. I just can't believe that he has played only 17 games of senior AFL football, and before that, probably a couple of seasons of AFL in total. As his profile says on the Collingwood site, he had hardly touched an AFL football before he got to Collingwood and yet last Sunday, he managed to put in a precise left-foot pass to a team-mate while he was coming out of the backline.

And coupled with that, he's had most of the last year out with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. He comes back into the team and, while he has always looked a little short of confidence, his efforts have been outstanding. The fact that Buckley put his form ahead of Ben Reid in the post-match press conference last week, was a gentle dig but it was totally accurate too.

The fact that the club has given him a contract extension a year before his contract ends, is an indication that it thinks it might be smart to get a cheap price on the services of a player who could be a lot more pricey in 18 months time.

I remember the first time that I saw him play was on the ABC VFL telecast. I couldnt believe his agility for someone over 2 metres tall.

The return of Keeffe and the addition of Grundy has met many of the concerns I had with the hobbitisation of the team.

The other thing that I'd like to note is his attitude on the field. It's first class. As I said, he looks a little sheepish sometimes when he has to make decisions between making attacking choices and playing the ball down the boundary line. But you would have to expect that from a player who has hardly played any football.

Much was made of GWS's Jeremy Cameron's goal against Keeffe a couple of weeks back. I tend to marvel at the fact that Keeffe stuck with him right to the goal square. He'll learn from that experience and he'll get Cameron out of bounds next time.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

You have invented a new word - 'hobbitisation'. Agree with your sentiments re Keeffe.

 

[Who_can_say]

I admire his endeavour, and his skills appear sublime for somebody with an often unatural approach to the game.

 

[HenrikLundqvist]

Our very own Zdeno Chara in defense. Plays with such poise, we are a much more versatile team with him in it.

 

[millsy29gopies]

Keeffe <3 This guy will be All Australian one day and most likely Team of the 21st Century CHB. Took a while to get himself up to AFL standard last year but has been a revelation.

 

[half_back_flank]

Great thread, but I think his decision making is underrated a little.

He can take a while to get rid of the ball, but almost always it's because he realises he has the time to weigh up options. Last year it was noticeable too, he has a very good awareness of whats around him, rarely does he seem to miss targets.

 

[Reykjavik]

We are definitely a more flexible and better overall unit with the big Queenslander aboard.

I was pondering the many experiments we have engaged in from recent seasons, Shae Mac, the many Irish for example, and Richmond more recently. To me Lachlan is the data point that makes these make more sense; the reason why we persevere, because when it pays off it pays off huge and in ways that circumvent the normal limitations of draft cycles.

Witts to an extent is a similar play, albeit with slightly more football exposure before he came onto our radar, but really not that much.

If the two tall timbers continue to grow and develop as they have, we can point to some real tangible benefits from all the additional work. Whether the opportunity cost equation is still so positive is another analysis.

Hats off to Lachlan though as you say. A genuine success story and you have to look forward to seeing him in our backline for years to come.

 

[PremierPie13]

Great thread, but I think his decision making is underrated a little.

He can take a while to get rid of the ball, but almost always it's because he realises he has the time to weigh up options. Last year it was noticeable too, he has a very good awareness of whats around him, rarely does he seem to miss targets.

He is a very, very formidable field kick. On both sides he can weight passes and rebound beautifully; love having him as a key back that can make those switches of play and have an offensive game.

His athleticism too is quite remarkable for a guy of his size coming off a knee reconstruction. He will be a vital cog in our spine for years to come, hopefully injury permits this and his upside continues to be realised.

 

[RuFiO]

Can't believe how well he's played coming back from an ACL.
Been fukn seamless.
And I didn't realise he's played so few games till they mentioned it in the commentary the other day.
For some reason it feels like he has already played 50 games for us.

 

[Vicky Park]

I'm excited about a lot of things at Collingwood at the moment, and Keeffe is definitely one of them. Right up there in the yippee category!

 

[jefffff34]

Our very own Zdeno Chara in defense. Plays with such poise, we are a much more versatile team with him in it.

I'm expecting the Chara reference to go over most people's heads, however I believe Chara uses his clearly superior size to his advantage more, and this means he can be a truly intimidatory force.

I'm thinking Lachie is more our Dan Hamhuis

 

[vjknight]

The fact that the club has given him a contract extension a year before his contract ends, is an indication that it thinks it might be smart to get a cheap price on the services of a player who could be a lot more pricey in 18 months time.

i suspect it was more to do with other clubs beginning/being fearful of beginning the process of sniffing around - yes a year early too. he's a rare commodity.

he certainly breaks the mould. traditionally keeffes type would begin in the forward line and progress to the ruck. despite his sound work in the VFL in '11 in defence he was debuted as a forward and it failed. in '12 resumed in defence and his confidence was restored. so again a month ago he resumes and dioesnt miss a beat. he knows the game plan to a tee and obeys it, whether switching play or defending under pressure.

best 22 lock.

 

[jackcass]

I think he could be 1 of the games premier defenders in years to come. Reminds me a bit of Carlisle at the bombers who is slightly ahead of him at this stage.

 

[neilk]

Kudos to whoever had the foresight to draft/list Keeffe based on virtually zero footy played. They deserve a medal!!

 

[loki04]

Great thread, but I think his decision making is underrated a little.

He can take a while to get rid of the ball, but almost always it's because he realises he has the time to weigh up options. Last year it was noticeable too, he has a very good awareness of whats around him, rarely does he seem to miss targets.

Agreed, he has a very good kick on him also to hit those targets.

 

[cpt chromasome]

Keeffe <3 This guy will be All Australian one day and most likely Team of the 21st Century CHB. Took a while to get himself up to AFL standard last year but has been a revelation.

big call.. hope ur right..

looks a gun. backline looks very good at the moment

 

[cpt chromasome]

his agility and skill for his size is amazing..

 

[RuFiO]

Only con is that he can't take a chest mark in the wet for shit

 

[ipswichpies]

I saw him up here on the coast first game back in the top flight after more than a year out with knee reco and he was a bit scratchy first half but ripping by the end.That piece of play against Essendon when he threw himself down across the ball showed just how agile he is for a bloke 6ft 8 in the old,he has great foot skills as well.He is going to be the best banabender we have ever had on our list right up there with Gavin Croisisca and he was,nt bad.As someone else posted he and Goldie give us so much more flexibility and it means we can release Reid forward who I think has been very good and his kicking is not too bad either.

It would have been great if we had had the services Ball,Beams,Keeffy,Goldie and also our very own jumping ruckman all season we may well have been pushing for a top 2 finish but things look great for the future.

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

I saw him up here on the coast first game back in the top flight after more than a year out with knee reco and he was a bit scratchy first half but ripping by the end.That piece of play against Essendon when he threw himself down across the ball showed just how agile he is for a bloke 6ft 8 in the old.He has great foot skills as well he is going to be the best banabender we have ever had on our list right up there with Gavin Crosisca and he was,nt bad.

Beams would fit into the bananabender category and would be in front of Keeffe. Keeffe would have to be in the class of Scarlett to get in front of Beams. Im not saying you will be wrong, it is however unlikely, Keeffe will be better then Beams.

 

[jmac70]

We now have a premiership spine. Very exciting times ahead.

 

[tazzawazza]

The beast might play against Tippett tomorrow, last time he played against him he truly smashed him, but did that infamous knee. Hopefully he completely demolishes him tomorrow, Keeffey is probably one of my favourite players at the moment.

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

I was there in Adelaide the night he did his knee. I was absolutely devastated because the little glimpse he had shown last year was brilliant. It's good to see he seems to have come back just as strong.

Keep it up Keeffe!

 

[Cory]

I'm just glad he hasn't re-injured his knee, has shown promising signs of a great future. Glad he's going to be with us until 2015.

 

[Antz]

He has a great attitude as well. When he gives away a free kick he never complains...just knuckles down and gets on with the job. Love watching him play and is currently my favourite player at the moment.