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Guy surprised by Dogs’ delisting
A WEEK can be a long time in football. Two weeks even longer.
Guy O’Keefe experienced the harshness of life at the elite level recently when he was a shock delisting by the Western Bulldogs.
It came just a fortnight after the promising half-forward/midfielder finished fourth in the Williamstown best and fairest count, and won the Seagulls’ Coaches’ Award.
The 19-year-old had just enjoyed a stellar second season with the Seagulls, but apart from numerous weeks as an emergency was denied making his Dogs debut.
Picked up at No.63 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft from the Geelong Falcons, O’Keefe was one of five players cut from the senior list, along with Mal Lynch, 21, Wayde Skipper, 26, Paul O’Shea, 20, and Cameron Wight, 24.
“I wouldn’t say I expected it,” O’Keefe told the Leader from his family’s Ocean Grove home. “I was more disappointed than anything.
“I love the Bulldogs. I love the culture down there. And I made a lot of good friends down there.
“But, (the Dogs’ coaching staff) obviously see me not fitting in there as a player with the way they want to head and I’ve accepted that. I definitely left on good terms. There were no hard feelings at all.
“They have mentioned that I may get rookied or re-drafted, so we’ll look at that.”
While that remains a distinct possibility, O’Keefe has already been sounded out by rival AFL clubs keen on his services.
“I’ve had a chat to a few clubs ... (I’m) just taking it easy for now, spending some time at home, but (I will) probably get into a pre-season somewhere, where I don’t know yet.”
O’Keefe didn’t miss a senior game during his time at Williamstown, but was constantly waiting in line behind a host of other more senior Bulldogs of a similar playing type.
“It’s been the story I think for the last couple of years why I couldn’t get a game,” he said. “List management and a few other things.”
O’Keefe was told of his fate during a meeting with coach Rodney Eade, assistant coach Leon Cameron, football manager James Fantasia and development manager Chris Maple.
Fantasia said, “Guy played some good football at Williamstown ... (but) we need to turn over our list and go to the draft, and this is the hard part of that process.”
O’Keefe, who has been living in Williamstown for the past two years, says he has learnt a lot from the experience and knows he will have to work harder if another AFL opportunity presents itself.
“I’ve matured a lot over the last couple of years. I’ve learnt a lot about myself, not only with my footy, but myself as a person. I think I can only take that into next chapter of footy and my life.
“I’m just really looking forward to the next step.
“It’s the work ethic ... I know what is required now of an AFL footballer.
“I will definitely be going into the national and hopefully getting picked up from that.”
A WEEK can be a long time in football. Two weeks even longer.
Guy O’Keefe experienced the harshness of life at the elite level recently when he was a shock delisting by the Western Bulldogs.
It came just a fortnight after the promising half-forward/midfielder finished fourth in the Williamstown best and fairest count, and won the Seagulls’ Coaches’ Award.
The 19-year-old had just enjoyed a stellar second season with the Seagulls, but apart from numerous weeks as an emergency was denied making his Dogs debut.
Picked up at No.63 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft from the Geelong Falcons, O’Keefe was one of five players cut from the senior list, along with Mal Lynch, 21, Wayde Skipper, 26, Paul O’Shea, 20, and Cameron Wight, 24.
“I wouldn’t say I expected it,” O’Keefe told the Leader from his family’s Ocean Grove home. “I was more disappointed than anything.
“I love the Bulldogs. I love the culture down there. And I made a lot of good friends down there.
“But, (the Dogs’ coaching staff) obviously see me not fitting in there as a player with the way they want to head and I’ve accepted that. I definitely left on good terms. There were no hard feelings at all.
“They have mentioned that I may get rookied or re-drafted, so we’ll look at that.”
While that remains a distinct possibility, O’Keefe has already been sounded out by rival AFL clubs keen on his services.
“I’ve had a chat to a few clubs ... (I’m) just taking it easy for now, spending some time at home, but (I will) probably get into a pre-season somewhere, where I don’t know yet.”
O’Keefe didn’t miss a senior game during his time at Williamstown, but was constantly waiting in line behind a host of other more senior Bulldogs of a similar playing type.
“It’s been the story I think for the last couple of years why I couldn’t get a game,” he said. “List management and a few other things.”
O’Keefe was told of his fate during a meeting with coach Rodney Eade, assistant coach Leon Cameron, football manager James Fantasia and development manager Chris Maple.
Fantasia said, “Guy played some good football at Williamstown ... (but) we need to turn over our list and go to the draft, and this is the hard part of that process.”
O’Keefe, who has been living in Williamstown for the past two years, says he has learnt a lot from the experience and knows he will have to work harder if another AFL opportunity presents itself.
“I’ve matured a lot over the last couple of years. I’ve learnt a lot about myself, not only with my footy, but myself as a person. I think I can only take that into next chapter of footy and my life.
“I’m just really looking forward to the next step.
“It’s the work ethic ... I know what is required now of an AFL footballer.
“I will definitely be going into the national and hopefully getting picked up from that.”
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