South Adelaide’s Keegan Brooksby ready to lead Panthers into SANFL action

SOUTH Adelaide’s gun ruckman Keegan Brooksby, who will co-captain the side with Joel Cross, is a more complete player after three years with Gold Coast.

Jarrad Wright and player Keegan Brooksby. Picture: Dean Martin/AAP

RUCKMAN Keegan Brooksby was a powerful influence at South Adelaide before being picked up by Gold Coast in the rookie draft in 2014.

There was no more glaring evidence of his significant presence at the Panthers than his best and fairest win that season when he was a key factor in the club taking their season to the preliminary final.

Brooksby has returned to the Panthers this season after 14 AFL games, and as a vastly more complete player.

Ruck was the only position he had known in Adelaide. But the Suns reinvented his game as they taught him the requirements of being used as an attacking weapon as well as a key defender.

“I had to learn to play forward early in my time with Gold Coast,” Brooksby said. “That was the biggest area of growth for me.

“I had the opportunities to play as a defender as well. From never playing as a defender to being on some of the better forwards in the AFL was a steep learning curve.

“In my first and last years with Gold Coast I spent time as a forward and hopefully I’ll be able to hit the scoreboard a bit more than when I was last here.”

South Adelaide coach Jarrad Wright, right, and ruckman/forward Keegan Brooksby.

Brooksby admitted it had been a challenge adapting back to life as a part-time footballer, while there had been a heavy turnover of playing personnel at the Panthers. That means a crash course in getting to know team-mates’ games.

What hasn’t changed is having gun midfielders Joel Cross and Nick Liddle at his feet.

“It was an unreal experience with Gold Coast, just being part of that system where you get to concentrate on football every single day,” he said.

“To get that opportunity at 24 was unreal. I did everything I could while I was there and made the most of every minute, there are no regrets.”

Brooksby has been named co-captain with Cross and the pair will lead the side into the first-round contest against Glenelg at Noarlunga Oval today.

There are three Good Friday games with Central District hosting North Adelaide and West Adelaide at home to Woodville-West Torrens. Port Adelaide and Adelaide meet at Alberton Oval tomorrow.