As the calendar ticked over to January 2012, Rhys O’Keeffe must’ve felt he’d interacted with black cats, walked under ladders and opened umbrellas inside, such was his luck – or total lack thereof – with injuries. Entering his fifth season in 2013, “ROK” was struck with stress fractures, muscle tears and a foot problem that refused to heal, stifling him to just three senior games in his four-year AFL career.
Managing two games in 2012, his comeback match in Round 18 against Brisbane was his first senior appearance since Round 14, 2011 against West Coast. In a season where the Blues blooded seven debutants, many could be forgiven for thinking that ROK was another of the new kids on the block, due to his spasmodic career to date. Onward to 2013, the boy from North Adelaide has now enjoyed his first full pre-season at Carlton since 2008, as a solidly built 18-year-old from the North Adelaide Roosters, joining a strong South Australian contingent on the Blues’ playing list. Yet it wasn’t until midway through last year, making a return to VFL football following an interrupted pre-season, that Rhys strung together consistent, gut-running football to put his hand up for selection against the Lions and St Kilda in Round 23.
An accurately, booming left-foot kick, who can adapt his game to both an in-and-under and outside style of play; ROK, now confident that the worst is behind, will look to build on his game tally and push for regular senior selection as a wingman-cum-forward. Certainly one to keep an eye and an ear out for in season 2013.
PLAYS LIKE...
Left-footed and stocky, there’s a case to be made that Rhys would fit in well with the left-footed fraternity down at Hawthorn. It’s hard not to compare him to a Luke Hodge or Sam Mitchell in the way he goes about his football; combining strength and clean hands in close, as well as precision kicking skills when in space.
KILLER QUALITY
Without wanting to sound like a broken record, it is Rhys’ kicking that stands out to the standard football appreciator. Near the conclusion of the VFL season, ROK began to sneak forward and kick goals whilst playing on-ball making him exceptionally dangerous. Coaches love “70-metre players”; footballers who run their distance before launching the ball over fifty metres up-field within the one play. Given Rhys’ kicking power, he certainly fits that category comfortably.
BEST PERFORMANCE
From three games - one being a debut and the other a fourth-quarter substitution – Rhys’ best performance isn’t one to send the AFL community into an overdrive of excitement. Yet his third match, the Round 23 loss to St. Kilda at the end of season 2012, saw him accumulate 15 possessions, giving many the impression that he had the ability to belong at senior level.
WHAT WE SAY
“A raking left-foot kick with an appetite to learn. Gives us enormous flexibility in that he can play through the midfield, wing and across half-back.” – Brad Green, Carlton Midfield Coach
STATS THAT MATTER
- Kicked 10 goals in the last 7 VFL games of 2012 season as a midfielder
- Carlton’s 9th highest possession-getter in Round 23 loss to St Kilda in 2012
Follow Tony De Bolfo on Twitter: @CFC_DeBolfo
