And yet the softly-spoken South Australian is genuinely upbeat in the countdown to his long-awaited comeback match, on a wing for the Northern Blues against Box Hill. As he declared: “I’m really excited. I feel like I’m playing my first game of Auskick again”.
“To think where I’ve been this year and to resume training so early . . . I see this as an accomplishment,” O’Keeffe said.
O’Keeffe’s tale of peaks and troughs has been well-documented at various stages through the course of his injury, rehabilitation, the onset of white staph and now recovery. It all began when the 22 year-old first experienced problems with the heel of his left kicking foot in late 2011.
He developed a sinus in his heel which affected the tissue, and as Carlton General Manager – Football Operations Andrew McKay said earlier this year, “they had to core it all out and clean up the tissue and it did heal up”.
“But then it opened up again so he had to go back in for further surgery . . . and that’s happened three times now,” McKay added. “They couldn’t work out why the wound kept opening up. Now they’ve completed a bone biopsy there may have been an underlying infection in that bone initially.”
O’Keeffe’s heel was subsequently tended to by a foot surgeon and a plastics man in what was a delicate operation. That left him laid up at home wearing a moon boot, during which time he was placed on a four-week course of antibiotics administered twice daily by a visiting nurse, and another three months of oral antibiotics.
McKay’s prognosis at the time was that O’Keeffe was unlikely to resume playing this season to ensure complete recovery and no recurrence.
But the good news is that O’Keeffe has ticked the boxes, and is well ahead of schedule.
“I always thought I was going to eventually play again, but I didn’t think I’d be playing this year,” O’Keeffe confessed. “I didn’t think I’d be out there this early, so it’s a credit to the medical staff and the fitness co-ordinator ‘JC’’(Justin Cordy).”
In recent weeks, O’Keeffe has assisted Luke Webster’s cause in the Northern Blues coach’s box. He’s learnt plenty there, but somehow doesn’t envisage a coaching career.
“The experience was pretty intense,” O’Keeffe said. “Luke was picking up things ten minutes before they’d even entered my thought processes. He was terrific in helping me watch for things and it’s put me in good stead for when I play because I’ll know what to do.
Rhys O'Keeffe photographed during Carlton's pre-season training camp in Arizona. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
“But coaching’s not for me. I don’t think I’d be quick enough to make the moves.”
Now nearing the end of his three-year tenure as a Carlton rookie, O’Keeffe has also had to deal with the added scenarios - either elevation to the senior list or, worst case, de-listing.
For the three-game Carlton player, those added pressures have taken some emotional toll.
“As for anyone, you don’t think you’re going to play in your most crucial year of football. You obviously start thinking about life after footy,” O’Keeffe candidly admitted.
“But coming back with six weeks to go, who knows what can happen? I could make a big impact and get back into the seniors leading in to finals time.
“I’m not putting expectations on myself. I just want to go out and play footy. I know that if I go out there and play with that mentality that everything else will look after itself.”
As much as anything else, O’Keeffe look forward to renewing his love affair with the game, remembering his only appearance for the year came in the Nab Cup opener against Greater Western Sydney in February.
“I only got to play a half that day so I look forward to getting a game and just really enjoying it. I look forward to playing with the boys again and hopefully getting a win because I haven’t be part of a win this year,” O’Keeffe said.
“I’m looking forward to being a player again rather than a spectator. It’s pretty important for me knowing I’m coming back as a player and knowing I’m going to contribute.”
