2017 Player SponsorsSeason By Season Keeffe was forced to make a delayed start to 2013 as he dotted the Is and crossed the Ts on every last part of his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction. The rangy defender lost nearly 10kg after undergoing surgery in May 2012 but was able to increase his weight to 101kg by the time he returned in the VFL against Essendon in round seven. But even then Keeffe couldn’t keep himself out of harm’s way, injuring his kidney when he landed on the knee of Bomber wunderkind Joe Daniher during the final quarter. He was consigned to another fortnight on the sidelines before mounting another comeback against Coburg. He built into some steady form at centre half back and after he’d won 20 disposals and taken 10 marks in the win over Box Hill, the match committee came calling. Keeffe made his return to AFL ranks in the loss to Gold Coast in round 17 but managed to hold his place for the final seven games of the season where his presence in defence was vital in releasing Ben Reid further afield. He also received the money-can’t-buy experience of playing on Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin in the space of six days. He was successful in neutralising Tippett once he moved onto him in the second half and conceded only two goals to Franklin that weren’t via free kicks. The 23-year-old played in attack and pinched hit in the ruck in the absence of Quinten Lynch in the Elimination Final loss and will be looking forward to spending the duration of the pre-season in full training.At A Glance Junior Clubs: Nil Clubs: Collingwood (2008-2015) Debut: Round 16 2011 v North Melbourne Recruited From: Marist College, Brisbane (QLD) Brownlow Votes: 0Season By Season In March, Keeffe received a two-year ban from ASADA for testing positive to the banned substance clenbuterol. As part of the suspension, he was banned from any club activities and returned to his home state of Queensland to serve his suspension. Keeffe was delisted, but then placed on Collingwood’s rookie list in November’s Rookie Draft. He is expected to return to the club in December 2016. Should he cement himself as a senior player, Keeffe may represent General Manager of List Management Derek Hine's greatest success story. Plucked from a Queensland talent search, Keeffe had barely touched a Sherrin before walking in the door at Collingwood. Three years of development culminated in his debut in 2011 and some promising showings at AFL level. He has a long reach, great agility and the capacity to play in key position posts at both ends of the ground as well as pinch hit in the ruck. He was one of the success stories of Collingwood's patchy start to 2012 but was forced to spend twelve months on the sidelines due to a knee reconstruction. He returned midway through 2013 and played the final eight matches at centre half back where he gained experience on the likes of Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin. An injury-free run enabled Keeffe to play a career-high 18 senior games in 2014, a year in which he featured among the club's leadership group. The talented swingman served a two-year league-imposed ban in 2015-16 for violating the AFL's drug code. He returned in a full capacity from his suspension in February, 2017. Played 20 games in the VFL in his first year on the rookie list, and was named in the best twice. Assigned the No. 44, Keeffe spent most of his season in the ruck, with stints in key positions at both ends of the ground. Had the invaluable experience of playing in three VFL finals, including the victories over the Casey Scorpions and Williamstown.Season by Season Received his share of publicity in the pre-season when experts touted him as a possible replacement for the injured Nathan Brown at full back. Blooded in the NAB Cup where he played three games in a key defensive post, but missed the NAB Cup premiership. Couldn’t find a place in the side when the home and away season commenced, but did not slip out of view completely as he was named as an emergency for six matches. Finally broke through for his AFL debut in round 16 against North Melbourne, albeit playing as a key forward (he replaced the injured Chris Dawes). The sodden conditions didn’t faze him on debut, and a fortnight later impressed greatly kicking 3.2 against Gold Coast. Was omitted after round 19 and only played once more before a glut of senior players returned for the finals. Used as a part of the substitute system in his final two matches. Was not permitted to play for Collingwood until late in the season. Learnt the game playing for Old Trinity in the Amateurs, and represented Queensland in the U18 National Championships mid-year. He debuted for Collingwood in the VFL in round 16 against Geelong, and played four more games for the rest of the year. Officially became a rookie listed player in December, when he was selected by Collingwood with the 69th selection in the Rookie Draft.Season By Season Season 2014 marked Lachlan Keeffe’s most complete year yet. He played 18 senior games – nine more than he had managed in any other year – was named in the club’s leadership group and got through the season without sustaining or recovering from a major injury. Surprisingly, he began the year outside the senior 22 after struggling against Gold Coast’s Charlie Dixon in the final practice match of the summer, but he was soon given a recall and played in 18 of Collingwood’s last 20 games of the season. In a year in which the Magpies were without Nathan Brown and Ben Reid for the bulk of the campaign, Keeffe and Jack Frost stood tall in the key defensive posts. He began to generate more rebound as the year wore on, collecting a career-high 18 disposals in successive weeks mid-season against Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. Keeffe also registered 21 of his 38 rebound 50s in his last seven games, hinting at the level of confidence he had developed after several years of injury and development. By year’s end, Keeffe had tallied 89 spoils (second only to Frost’s 141), and against Gold Coast he was entrusted with 100 per cent game time – a rarity in the modern game.Season By Season Was one of the Pies’ best stories early in 2012, playing every NAB Cup game before becoming a key element of the backline for the opening nine rounds. With injuries to Nathan Brown, Ben Reid, Chris Tarrant, Heath Shaw and Nick Maxwell, he was the only constant in defence before he suffered a right knee injury in round nine and needed a reconstruction. The backman will be close to starting pre-season on time and the Pies hope he will put the injury behind him, given his promise in a key post.Season By Season Despite holding a place on the club's rookie list, Keeffe spent the 2016 season suspended from all club activities after his ASADA-enforced ban for a positive test to the banned substance clenbuterol. He spent the year in his home state of Queensland before returning to the Holden Centre in December. Keeffe was allowed to train with his teammates in a restricted manner as he prepared to return to Collingwood's senior list in 2017. Pre-listed by Collingwood with the AFL’s permission after he was spotted by Collingwood’s National Recruiting Manager Derek Hine at the AFL Queensland rookie search. Keeffe had only played a handful of games with his school team prior to Collingwood listing him, and he had not had any experience Australian Football prior to 2007. Was switched to the backline by VFL coach Gavin Brown and he took some big steps in his new role, being named in the best on six occasions. Played 20 VFL matches, including one final, wearing Anthony Rocca's No. 23.
2017 Player SponsorsSeason By Season Keeffe was forced to make a delayed start to 2013 as he dotted the Is and crossed the Ts on every last part of his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction. The rangy defender lost nearly 10kg after undergoing surgery in May 2012 but was able to increase his weight to 101kg by the time he returned in the VFL against Essendon in round seven. But even then Keeffe couldn’t keep himself out of harm’s way, injuring his kidney when he landed on the knee of Bomber wunderkind Joe Daniher during the final quarter. He was consigned to another fortnight on the sidelines before mounting another comeback against Coburg. He built into some steady form at centre half back and after he’d won 20 disposals and taken 10 marks in the win over Box Hill, the match committee came calling. Keeffe made his return to AFL ranks in the loss to Gold Coast in round 17 but managed to hold his place for the final seven games of the season where his presence in defence was vital in releasing Ben Reid further afield. He also received the money-can’t-buy experience of playing on Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin in the space of six days. He was successful in neutralising Tippett once he moved onto him in the second half and conceded only two goals to Franklin that weren’t via free kicks. The 23-year-old played in attack and pinched hit in the ruck in the absence of Quinten Lynch in the Elimination Final loss and will be looking forward to spending the duration of the pre-season in full training.At A Glance Junior Clubs: Nil Clubs: Collingwood (2008-2015) Debut: Round 16 2011 v North Melbourne Recruited From: Marist College, Brisbane (QLD) Brownlow Votes: 0Season By Season In March, Keeffe received a two-year ban from ASADA for testing positive to the banned substance clenbuterol. As part of the suspension, he was banned from any club activities and returned to his home state of Queensland to serve his suspension. Keeffe was delisted, but then placed on Collingwood’s rookie list in November’s Rookie Draft. He is expected to return to the club in December 2016. Should he cement himself as a senior player, Keeffe may represent General Manager of List Management Derek Hine's greatest success story. Plucked from a Queensland talent search, Keeffe had barely touched a Sherrin before walking in the door at Collingwood. Three years of development culminated in his debut in 2011 and some promising showings at AFL level. He has a long reach, great agility and the capacity to play in key position posts at both ends of the ground as well as pinch hit in the ruck. He was one of the success stories of Collingwood's patchy start to 2012 but was forced to spend twelve months on the sidelines due to a knee reconstruction. He returned midway through 2013 and played the final eight matches at centre half back where he gained experience on the likes of Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin. An injury-free run enabled Keeffe to play a career-high 18 senior games in 2014, a year in which he featured among the club's leadership group. The talented swingman served a two-year league-imposed ban in 2015-16 for violating the AFL's drug code. He returned in a full capacity from his suspension in February, 2017. Played 20 games in the VFL in his first year on the rookie list, and was named in the best twice. Assigned the No. 44, Keeffe spent most of his season in the ruck, with stints in key positions at both ends of the ground. Had the invaluable experience of playing in three VFL finals, including the victories over the Casey Scorpions and Williamstown.Season by Season Received his share of publicity in the pre-season when experts touted him as a possible replacement for the injured Nathan Brown at full back. Blooded in the NAB Cup where he played three games in a key defensive post, but missed the NAB Cup premiership. Couldn’t find a place in the side when the home and away season commenced, but did not slip out of view completely as he was named as an emergency for six matches. Finally broke through for his AFL debut in round 16 against North Melbourne, albeit playing as a key forward (he replaced the injured Chris Dawes). The sodden conditions didn’t faze him on debut, and a fortnight later impressed greatly kicking 3.2 against Gold Coast. Was omitted after round 19 and only played once more before a glut of senior players returned for the finals. Used as a part of the substitute system in his final two matches. Was not permitted to play for Collingwood until late in the season. Learnt the game playing for Old Trinity in the Amateurs, and represented Queensland in the U18 National Championships mid-year. He debuted for Collingwood in the VFL in round 16 against Geelong, and played four more games for the rest of the year. Officially became a rookie listed player in December, when he was selected by Collingwood with the 69th selection in the Rookie Draft.Season By Season Season 2014 marked Lachlan Keeffe’s most complete year yet. He played 18 senior games – nine more than he had managed in any other year – was named in the club’s leadership group and got through the season without sustaining or recovering from a major injury. Surprisingly, he began the year outside the senior 22 after struggling against Gold Coast’s Charlie Dixon in the final practice match of the summer, but he was soon given a recall and played in 18 of Collingwood’s last 20 games of the season. In a year in which the Magpies were without Nathan Brown and Ben Reid for the bulk of the campaign, Keeffe and Jack Frost stood tall in the key defensive posts. He began to generate more rebound as the year wore on, collecting a career-high 18 disposals in successive weeks mid-season against Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. Keeffe also registered 21 of his 38 rebound 50s in his last seven games, hinting at the level of confidence he had developed after several years of injury and development. By year’s end, Keeffe had tallied 89 spoils (second only to Frost’s 141), and against Gold Coast he was entrusted with 100 per cent game time – a rarity in the modern game.Season By Season Was one of the Pies’ best stories early in 2012, playing every NAB Cup game before becoming a key element of the backline for the opening nine rounds. With injuries to Nathan Brown, Ben Reid, Chris Tarrant, Heath Shaw and Nick Maxwell, he was the only constant in defence before he suffered a right knee injury in round nine and needed a reconstruction. The backman will be close to starting pre-season on time and the Pies hope he will put the injury behind him, given his promise in a key post.Season By Season Despite holding a place on the club's rookie list, Keeffe spent the 2016 season suspended from all club activities after his ASADA-enforced ban for a positive test to the banned substance clenbuterol. He spent the year in his home state of Queensland before returning to the Holden Centre in December. Keeffe was allowed to train with his teammates in a restricted manner as he prepared to return to Collingwood's senior list in 2017. Pre-listed by Collingwood with the AFL’s permission after he was spotted by Collingwood’s National Recruiting Manager Derek Hine at the AFL Queensland rookie search. Keeffe had only played a handful of games with his school team prior to Collingwood listing him, and he had not had any experience Australian Football prior to 2007. Was switched to the backline by VFL coach Gavin Brown and he took some big steps in his new role, being named in the best on six occasions. Played 20 VFL matches, including one final, wearing Anthony Rocca's No. 23.
