O'Keefe ready to go at Panthers

HE won’t admit it, but South Adelaide recruit Guy O’Keefe was pretty stiff not to get an AFL game last season.

In his second year on the Western Bulldogs’ list, the 20-year-old played every game at VFL club Williamstown and was named in the best players on 12 occasions.

But with the Bulldogs overloaded with small, pacy midfield/half-forward types and pushing hard for a Grand Final spot, O’Keefe found himself locked out of the side.

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``I was emergency five or six times but never cracked it for a game,’’ O’Keefe said.

``Obviously the boys were going really well.

``All the players in the position I play were always fit and the number one goal was to win a premiership.

``I don’t hold any bad feelings toward the club, I understand it’s a ruthless business.’’

O’Keefe was delisted at the end of last season and despite training with Geelong for three weeks was overlooked in the AFL Rookie Draft.

So along with Williamstown team-mates Xavier Gotch and Dylan Joyce, O’Keefe joined the Panthers this year looking for a fresh start.

He looks set to add a touch of class to the Panthers forward line and midfield rotations with his damaging left foot.

``I played in the midfield most of last season so I’d love to get involved in the rotations here with a few of the new boys and some of the older guys who have had big preseasons,’’ O’Keefe, who has signed a two-year deal said.

``Hopefully we can be a force.’’