O’Keeffe’s persistence rewarded
Carlton rookie to make his AFL debut on Sunday against West Coast after battling through assorted injuries
CARLTON rookie Rhys O'Keeffe has overcome a horror run with injury to make his AFL debut for the Blues against West Coast on Sunday.
O'Keeffe's delight at being selected 65th overall by the club at the 2008 NAB AFL Draft soon turned to disappointment as a string of groin, hip and soft-tissue injuries derailed his first two seasons at Visy Park.
But the Blues threw the North Adelaide product a lifeline at the end of last season, and football manager Steven Icke is delighted with how the 20-year-old has been able to grasp his second chance.
"This year he's had a good pre-season and been able to string some games together which he hasn't done before," Icke said on Friday after the final teams for round 14 were announced.
"The consequence of that is that every week he's been getting better and better.
"He's got enormous power in his game, he's a big strong lad, and can play as an outside midfielder or across half-back, so after all of that improvement he gets his opportunity."
O'Keeffe is one of three changes to last week’s team that defeated the Sydney Swans by 34 points. Robbie Warnock comes in to replace Shaun Hampson (knee), and Dennis Armfield returns to the team after Ed Curnow (quad) pulled up sore from training during the week. Nick Duigan is out with a sore calf.
"Nick pulled sore after last week's game, but we thought he'd get up," Icke said.
"He was close, but because we've got a six-day turnaround between this weekend and Richmond next week so we figured that if we rested him this week then he'd be right for the next.
"While he's a mature player, coming into the AFL system from the SANFL is still a big step up. The increase in training load and game intensity is a lot higher so he's a bit sore and we've chosen to give him a rest."
Curnow is also expected to miss just one game.
"He's pulled up with a little bit of leg soreness so we're just mindful that it could lead to something more than it currently is [if we push it]," Icke said.
"That's why we've taken a cautious approach with him."
Paul Bower, Brock McLean and Mark Austin are the emergencies for the clash at Etihad Stadium.
"McLean, on the back of a really good game for the Bullants, is probably a bit stiff," Icke said.
"He's certainly one that's knocking on the door to get his opportunity as are Bower and Austin.
"One of the things that you need if you're going to be successful is depth, so as much as we've got a couple of injuries at the moment we do have a few guys pushing up."