Sockeye Salmon
29-07-2008, 01:09 PM
Ryan O’Keefe
Number: 5
190cm, 88 kg.
158 games, 175 goals.
DOB: 24-1-81
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ryan_o%27keefe.jpg
Bio from Sydneyswans.com.au
2008
As dependable as ever in 2007, even though he had to shoulder more responsibility because of key forward Barry Hall’s groin injury. Led the Swans for inside-50 possessions (92) and took 121 marks. The 2005 premiership player has strong hands and uses his stamina to run deep into defence to help out when needed. Equal runner-up (with Brett Kirk) in the 2006 best and fairest.
Career
The left-footed defender was selected with Sydney's third pick - number 56 overall - in the 1999 AFL National Draft after winning the Calder Cannons' best and fairest in the TAC Cup competition, polling second in the coaches' award and being named in the back-pocket in the TAC Cup Team of the Year. He managed five senior matches in his first season and 13 in his second - one being the 2001 elimination final loss to Hawthorn where he booted Sydney's opening goal then hurt a knee minutes later. The injury and suspension disrupted the first half of his 2002 season but he stormed back for the final six games when he moved up the ground and booted four goals against the Kangaroos in round 19. He showed his robust abilities in 2003 playing 16 games around the ground and booting 17 goals. But it was 2004 when O'Keefe flourished as a serious forward option, finishing second at the Club in marks (124) and kicking 33 majors - 21 in the second half of season - including a bag of five against Geelong in round 16, after playing all 24-games, to come fourth in the best and fairest and be named the Most Improved Player. He set the AFL world alight in 2005, earning praise from Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews who said "Barry Hall has become a great player and Ryan O'Keefe all of a sudden is pushing into that category" after his 25 possession effort in round 20. In the second half of the year he was consistently near the best on ground and finished with 31 goals and 19 or more touches in nine games - including his best on ground performance in the preliminary final against St Kilda (24 disposals, ten marks and two goals) to earn an Australian guernsey in the International Rules Series. Last year he again took his game to another level setting the benchmark for fitness. The hard running and hard working half-forward's consistent season earned him All-Australian honours, and saw him tied runner-up in the best and fairest. He finished the season being named player of the series in Australia's International Rules tour of Ireland.
Sockeye’s Stuff
Sydney are not the most attacking side at the best of times and with Goodes and O’Laughlin to miss and Hall more concerned about deciding which gorgeous model to shag rather than bothering to get a kick, Sydney will be relying on O’Keefe to do a poultice of work forward of the centre.
The grandson of former Bulldog Leo Ryan* (1934-41, 119 games, 3 goals) and son of another Bulldog, Brian O’Keefe (1980, 3 games, 1 goal) - O’Keefe is a machine who simply presents to the ball over and over again.
*NB: It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that O’Keefe’s grandfather was Lionel Ryan rather than Leo Ryan because I always get confused about this. Leo was born in 1913 which would have made him pretty old (except that he was already dead) when Ryan was born - Sockeye Salmon.
Have a look at some of this guy’s stats – and don’t forget that he’s a half forward, not a midfielder:
Getting it and using it.
* 350 disposals – 2nd behind Kirk – and 129 of them have been contested. For us, only Cooney, Boyd and Cross have more contested possessions.
* 86 marks. His 17 contested would be equal first for us (with Hahn).
* 22 clangers – we have 18 players with 22 or more clangers! And not many of those 18 have had 350 chances to stuff it up.
He wins it a lot and rarely buggers it up when he does.
Forward stuff
* His 15 goal assists would make him 3rd for us behind Johnson and Murphy (both on 16).
* His 76 inside 50’s is just behind Murphy and Griffen.
* One weakness is his goal kicking – 20-25 for the year. 45 shots is pretty good for someone who spends a lot of time as a high half forward but 44% accuracy is in the Buddy Franklin category.
* 23 marks inside 50 – 3rd behind O’Laughlin and Hall.
* You like your forwards to apply pressure? How about 56 tackles? (Hahn has 59, Cross 81, Boyd 62)
So, in conclusion, we have a guy who takes contested marks and tackles like Hahn. He wins midfielder stats as a high half forward and sends it into forward 50 more often than Cooney. He has less clangers than Gilbee and more goal assists than Gia.
This bloke is a seriously good player!
Number: 5
190cm, 88 kg.
158 games, 175 goals.
DOB: 24-1-81
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ryan_o%27keefe.jpg
Bio from Sydneyswans.com.au
2008
As dependable as ever in 2007, even though he had to shoulder more responsibility because of key forward Barry Hall’s groin injury. Led the Swans for inside-50 possessions (92) and took 121 marks. The 2005 premiership player has strong hands and uses his stamina to run deep into defence to help out when needed. Equal runner-up (with Brett Kirk) in the 2006 best and fairest.
Career
The left-footed defender was selected with Sydney's third pick - number 56 overall - in the 1999 AFL National Draft after winning the Calder Cannons' best and fairest in the TAC Cup competition, polling second in the coaches' award and being named in the back-pocket in the TAC Cup Team of the Year. He managed five senior matches in his first season and 13 in his second - one being the 2001 elimination final loss to Hawthorn where he booted Sydney's opening goal then hurt a knee minutes later. The injury and suspension disrupted the first half of his 2002 season but he stormed back for the final six games when he moved up the ground and booted four goals against the Kangaroos in round 19. He showed his robust abilities in 2003 playing 16 games around the ground and booting 17 goals. But it was 2004 when O'Keefe flourished as a serious forward option, finishing second at the Club in marks (124) and kicking 33 majors - 21 in the second half of season - including a bag of five against Geelong in round 16, after playing all 24-games, to come fourth in the best and fairest and be named the Most Improved Player. He set the AFL world alight in 2005, earning praise from Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews who said "Barry Hall has become a great player and Ryan O'Keefe all of a sudden is pushing into that category" after his 25 possession effort in round 20. In the second half of the year he was consistently near the best on ground and finished with 31 goals and 19 or more touches in nine games - including his best on ground performance in the preliminary final against St Kilda (24 disposals, ten marks and two goals) to earn an Australian guernsey in the International Rules Series. Last year he again took his game to another level setting the benchmark for fitness. The hard running and hard working half-forward's consistent season earned him All-Australian honours, and saw him tied runner-up in the best and fairest. He finished the season being named player of the series in Australia's International Rules tour of Ireland.
Sockeye’s Stuff
Sydney are not the most attacking side at the best of times and with Goodes and O’Laughlin to miss and Hall more concerned about deciding which gorgeous model to shag rather than bothering to get a kick, Sydney will be relying on O’Keefe to do a poultice of work forward of the centre.
The grandson of former Bulldog Leo Ryan* (1934-41, 119 games, 3 goals) and son of another Bulldog, Brian O’Keefe (1980, 3 games, 1 goal) - O’Keefe is a machine who simply presents to the ball over and over again.
*NB: It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that O’Keefe’s grandfather was Lionel Ryan rather than Leo Ryan because I always get confused about this. Leo was born in 1913 which would have made him pretty old (except that he was already dead) when Ryan was born - Sockeye Salmon.
Have a look at some of this guy’s stats – and don’t forget that he’s a half forward, not a midfielder:
Getting it and using it.
* 350 disposals – 2nd behind Kirk – and 129 of them have been contested. For us, only Cooney, Boyd and Cross have more contested possessions.
* 86 marks. His 17 contested would be equal first for us (with Hahn).
* 22 clangers – we have 18 players with 22 or more clangers! And not many of those 18 have had 350 chances to stuff it up.
He wins it a lot and rarely buggers it up when he does.
Forward stuff
* His 15 goal assists would make him 3rd for us behind Johnson and Murphy (both on 16).
* His 76 inside 50’s is just behind Murphy and Griffen.
* One weakness is his goal kicking – 20-25 for the year. 45 shots is pretty good for someone who spends a lot of time as a high half forward but 44% accuracy is in the Buddy Franklin category.
* 23 marks inside 50 – 3rd behind O’Laughlin and Hall.
* You like your forwards to apply pressure? How about 56 tackles? (Hahn has 59, Cross 81, Boyd 62)
So, in conclusion, we have a guy who takes contested marks and tackles like Hahn. He wins midfielder stats as a high half forward and sends it into forward 50 more often than Cooney. He has less clangers than Gilbee and more goal assists than Gia.
This bloke is a seriously good player!