VFL Focus: Lachlan Keefe

[Dave The Man]

VFL Focus: Lachlan Keefe

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Luke Mason 10:27 AM Wed 27 August, 2008

Lachlan Keefe hopes to make his mark early next year
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With football clubs searching further outside the square than ever in order to identify the next big thing, Collingwood leads the way in its player development.

The club has already established an impressive record in nurturing young talents from the untraditional football pathways, with Irish youngster Martin Clarke boasting over 30 senior games in less than two seasons, and fellow countryman Kevin Dyas continuing to hone his craft on the rookie list.

In addition to the international pair is a batch of New South Wales teenagers, including Scott Reed, who are tied to the Magpies under the NSW/ACT scholarship plan. North of the border, Queensland teenager Lachlan Keefe was spotted by the Woods’ recruiting staff, who signed the 18-year-old to the club last summer as a pre-selected rookie.

Standing at 204cm, which makes him as tall as ruckman Cameron Wood, 2cm taller than Josh Fraser and 7cm taller than Chris Bryan, Keefe was identified by head recruiter at a rookie search in Queensland in 2007, and quickly signed the former soccer player to the club.

Keefe debuted for the club’s VFL side in its one-point defeat of Geelong at Skilled Stadium round 16, and has now played four matches in the state league, spending most of his time in the ruck, coupled with stints in a key post in attack.

“It’s certainly a bit of a step up from the level which I was playing, it is a lot quicker, a lot better skills, so it’s a different standard.

“It’s my fourth game, so I am just starting to get into it, and the boys have been able to help me out which has been good. We played against a good side, so it was a big test for us, and we did alright, so I suppose it was just our skills which let us down in the end.”

Only a relative newcomer to the game, Keefe admits that he may have to learn the ropes in a key position, with the likes of Wood and Justin Crow the senior ruckmen in the current VFL set-up.

“The club is trying to make me into a ruckman, but there are guys like ‘Woody’ (Cameron Wood) and Justin Crow in there, so I might end up playing in a key position, in both the backline and the forward line.”

As for the beginnings to his AFL journey, Keefe outlined the process which catapulted him into the Lexus Centre within months of his initial tryout.

“I did a ‘rookie search’ in Queensland for people who haven’t played much footy before, because I’d only played school footy, and hadn’t played club footy. So I went through that, and Derek picked me out, and I did a couple of trials. I’ve now been down here for a couple of months, so it has been pretty good.

“So far this season, I’ve been playing in the under-18s championships for Queensland, and then I also played in the Amateurs for Old Trinity.”

The move to Melbourne would intimidate most teenagers, particularly those with limited exposure to the Australian game, but it hasn’t fazed Keefe, who already has experience of life way from home.

“I’m from a small town, Gympie, up in Queensland, so I actually went to boarding school for three years. The move away from home wasn’t too bad, and my parents have come down a fair bit, so it’s been good.

“I’m currently doing a TAFE course for a career in fitness, so apart from that and footy, I’m just chilling back with the guys I live with, a couple of first-year draftees down in Williamstown.”

Yet to complete a whole season of senior football, Keefe will be placed onto Collingwood’s rookie list next season, and is set to continue to hone his trade in the VFL.

“I go onto the rookie list next year, so hopefully I can be playing some solid VFL footy.

“I don’t really have any long-term aspirations (as yet), I don’t even think that I’ll play any pre-season games next year, as I’m pretty raw, so I’m just trying to develop and get better as quickly as I can.”

Nice Little Update

Story Here

 

[well left]

Interesting that he also had a run with Old Trinity. Good idea to not throw him straight into VFL but ease him in.

He says that with the Wood and Crow he might not be playing ruck but the VFL report for last week noted that Crow played in defense as we had Wood and Keefe in the ruck. I think that is a lot better plan.

Don't mind the idea of him playing forward as well though. The kid needs a lot of development and he is better off resting in the pocket than sitting on the bench.

 

[pendles]

Very Nice Little Update.

 

[i_hate_scams]

that is music to my ears.

we can concentrate on a key backman and mids in this year's draft.

 

[shawthing09]

Interesting that he also had a run with Old Trinity. Good idea to not throw him straight into VFL but ease him in.

He says that with the Wood and Crow he might not be playing ruck but the VFL report for last week noted that Crow played in defense as we had Wood and Keefe in the ruck. I think that is a lot better plan.

Don't mind the idea of him playing forward as well though. The kid needs a lot of development and he is better off resting in the pocket than sitting on the bench.

Agree there, Especially since the plan of having a stand alone VFL side was to allow listed players to play the position or positions we see them in at AFL level, would be silly if he played anywhere other then in the ruck.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

^ Absolutely agree. If Keeffe can't play in the ruck alongside Cam Wood, then what's the point of having a standalone team?

We should even be playing Thoolen in the ruck ahead of Crow, to be perfectly honest.

 

[Dave The Man]

^ Absolutely agree. If Keeffe can't play in the ruck alongside Cam Wood, then what's the point of having a standalone team?

We should even be playing Thoolen in the ruck ahead of Crow, to be perfectly honest.

I agree if Thoolen is going to become a Ruckman, Then he should play there before a VFL Listed Player.

 

[well left]

Without wanting to turn this into a Thoolen thread, for some reason I have it in my head that the Pies see him as a Drew Petrie style player and will spend his development in the VFL playing, ruck, CHB and CHF.

I have nothing to base this on really. Maybe he just seems similar and has a similar background.

The VFL ruck combination next year should be Bryan with Keefe as support and Thoolen pinch hitting.

 

[Tony Francis]

Saw big Keefe on TV in the Geelong game, and also live a Princes Park a few weeks back.

He only had 1 or 2 touches/hitouts in limited time during both games, but he moved beautifully and seemed to have an innate sense of poise, which meant he didn't look overly out of place in what is (arguably) the second best league in the land.

Looks quite encouraging at this embryonic stage in his career, it will be interesting to see how he develops over the next 2 seasons on the rookie list.

 

[smiddaz123]

^ Absolutely agree. If Keeffe can't play in the ruck alongside Cam Wood, then what's the point of having a standalone team?

We should even be playing Thoolen in the ruck ahead of Crow, to be perfectly honest.

I thought Thoolen was thought of as a future defender around the club?