O’Keefe: We now have depth
All clubs head into Round One confident of their chances for the upcoming season but there is something about this year which has Sydney Swans midfielder Ryan O’Keefe buzzing with excitement.
Over the pre-season, O’Keefe has watched the club’s developing younger players, including Gary Rohan, Lewis Jetta and Trent Dennis-Lane, rise to new heights.
As well, the top three in last year’s Swans best and fairest – Kieren Jack, Shane Mumford and Josh Kennedy – have only played 150 games between them, and O’Keefe believes their continued improvement has created real depth in the side.
While spearhead Daniel Bradshaw is set to miss round one at least, O’Keefe believes the Swans have both young and experienced players who will be ready to take on Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
“I’ve got confidence in every player that will play this weekend that they will do the job,” O’Keefe said.
“We’ve never been about one player, we’ve always been about the team and the team winning.
“If you’re going to be a good side you’ve got to have depth. Look at all of the top four sides over the last decade – they’ve got really good depth.
“I suppose that’s probably another area we’ve improved is the depth in our list is a lot stronger than what it was last year.”
The Swans have lost their past five Round 1 matches and will head into Sunday’s match missing key players Bradshaw, Nick Malceski and Craig Bolton.
Despite this, O’Keefe said the hard work over the pre-season and the improved efforts of their young list should pay off against Melbourne.
“When you get a few key injuries, you get tested, you get stretched and you find some holes in your side but this year it’s been a really competitive pre-season with guys fighting for positions,” O’Keefe said.
“We’re not expecting them [the younger players] to lift us to ultimate glory … but you can see some slight improvements in them.
“It just shows we’re not always relying on the senior players anymore. We’ve got these guys that are pushing and driving the team and it just makes everyone else jump on board.”
O’Keefe had an interrupted season in 2010 playing the second half of the year with a groin injury.
After a post-season operation to fix the problem, O’Keefe said he just can’t wait to get out there on the weekend and get back to playing his best football.
“It’s always exciting, the first game,” he said.
“It’s been a long campaign, the pre-season training, and all of the hard work equates to now.
“You can sense the excitement around the club and everyone’s getting the buzz that the footy season is back. It’s a great thing to be a part of.”