The AFL has cast its net far and wide in recent years, recruiting from all different walks of life, but master coach Mick Malthouse believes the code has seen no better story than that of Gympie product Lachlan Keeffe.
The defender was named on an extended Collingwood bench yesterday for the side’s clash with North Melbourne on Sunday.
The 21-year-old former soccer player and track-and-field runner has made an amazing ascent through the ranks since picking up a Sherrin for the first time just four years.
He was first spotted by reigning AFL champion Collingwood while playing in a Queensland independent schools competition in Brisbane.
AFL Sunshine Coast development manager Mark Kennedy admits he is still kicking himself for not getting his claws into the Keeffe before the Magpies.
Keeffe first showed up on Kennedy’s radar as soon as he put hand to ball, but the novice was quickly snatched by the Magpies under an obscure, little-known rule that bypasses the draft system and allows AFL clubs to sign youngsters who have never played for a registered club.
The 204cm centre half-back eventually played for the Suncoast Power under-18s in the Queensland championships, but had already been ushered into the Collingwood system.
At the time of being scouted he was playing soccer. In that sport his height made him stand out like a sore thumb in the midfield, but his pace more than made up for his size.
Malthouse said if Keeffe were to finally make his senior AFL debut this weekend – after being named as an emergency on several occasions already this season – the youngster could be considered an Australian rules success story to rank among the code’s Gaelic football and rugby league recruits.
“In many respects, it’s probably a better story than an Irish story because with the Irishmen, they’ve got the football in their hands,” Malthouse said.
“With soccer, unless you’re a goalie, there’s not much chance of having it in your hands.
“In Lachlan’s case, he wasn’t playing for a football side. He was playing soccer, in the midfield.
“I think he’d played two games of footy with someone up there. That’s all. It’s outstanding.”
Kennedy said although he had seen players with as much potential as Keeffe come through the ranks, the youngster’s ability to make the transition was wholly due to attitude and commitment.
“With the Gaelic footballers, they use their hand-eye coordination and their feet,” Kennedy said.
“Lachlan, being a midfielder in soccer, to come in and start using his hands and to pick up the kicking style and get that hand-foot co-ordination going so quickly, it’s a credit to him.”
Lachlan’s father, Matt, a Gympie resident, told the Daily yesterday that he always thought his son would play professional soccer, but was over the moon with his AFL achievements.
“I always thought he was going to be a soccer player, only because he liked it,” he said.
“He was fairly athletic and was good at most sports that he tried.
“He always had that basic co-ordination, was very athletic.
“Down there (in Melbourne) it’s all very religious.
"Those kids are holding a Sherrin when they’re in the cot and are taught the basics of the game when they’re very young. He’s done really well to pick it up.”
LACHLAN KEEFFE
Number: 23
Height: 204cm
Weight: 99kg
Date of Birth: March 14, 1990
Junior Club: Amateurs of Old Trinity
Recruited: 2008
Article written by Steve Zemek for the Sunshine Coast Daily
Another article on Lachlan’s possible AFL debut also appeared in the Gympie Times:
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2011/07/07/lachlan-keeffe-chance-queensland-gympie/
Last Modified on 05/08/2011 15:04