Sydney premiership player Ryan O’Keefe in the mix to join Crows coaching staff
SYDNEY premiership hero Ryan O’Keefe is a contender for the new support panel for senior Crows coach Brenton Sanderson.
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SYDNEY premiership hero Ryan O’Keefe is a contender for the new support panel for senior Crows coach Brenton Sanderson.
Adelaide yesterday highlighted how it will not wait in any queue to meet new chief executive Andrew Fagan’s vision of building the AFL’s best football program at West Lakes.
Within hours of Fagan’s appointment, the Crows had O’Keefe in Adelaide to meet Crows football chief David Noble — despite the 2012 Norm Smith Medallist still being part of Sydney’s official player list for Friday night’s home preliminary final against North Melbourne.
O’Keefe’s interview with the Crows seems to confirm the 33-year-old midfielder/half-forward will move to AFL coaching rather than seek an extra year as player.
The 2009 Swans club champion has failed to force his way back to the Sydney first 22 since playing the first four AFL rounds.
Adelaide on Tuesday confirmed to The Advertiser it had met O’Keefe, but emphasised the 2006 All-Australian was among many contenders for its new football staff.
“Yes, the Adelaide Football Club has met with Ryan,” the club told The Advertiser.
“Ryan is among one of many AFL people we have met while making no secret that we want to bolster our football department. We are doing our due diligence by meeting with a range of people.”
Sanderson is to start his fourth season at Adelaide — with a contract to the end of 2016 — with a commitment from the front office to deliver him more staff.
He is seeking a new senior assistant coach after the loss of the experienced Dean Bailey with cancer at the start of the season.
He is to have more development staff — and perhaps a new leader in this section as Peter Jonas may seek a move.
And Adelaide will appoint a new list manager to ease Noble’s workload.
In question is whether Sanderson will keep his midfield coach, Scott Camporeale, who is out of contract.
Also in doubt, despite being on contract, is the presence of forwards coach Mark Bickley at West Lakes next season.
Fagan, a long-time sports administrator in rugby, yesterday continued his staff briefings as he measures the club’s resources and needs.
As an “outsider”, Fagan notes he offers a “fresh set of eyes” to deliver a critical review of Adelaide’s football operations.
“We’ve got to look at the football program and ensure that we’ve got the best football program in the AFL,” he said.
“It (is about) putting the right people in the right seats.
“From that, success will come.”
Originally published as Sydney premiership player Ryan O’Keefe in the mix to join Crows coaching staff
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