Crows star Ben Keays continues to be one of AFL’s great career revivals

He was an axed Lion, now he’s a beloved Crow, but where does Ben Keays rank in the greatest AFL career revivals? MATT TURNER dives deep into Keays’ rise at Adelaide.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 13: Ben Keays of the Crows celebrates with fans during the 2024 AFL Round 05 match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium on April 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Ben Keays going from axed Brisbane Lion to a cherished Crow is one of the AFL’s best modern career revivals.

Keays was on his way to playing for VFL club Box Hill in 2020, fresh off Brisbane delisting him after 30 games from 2016-19.

But Adelaide threw him a career lifeline in the rookie draft and he arrived at West Lakes during the same off-season as coach Matthew Nicks.

Since then, Keays has finished top five in Adelaide’s best-and-fairest award three times, been promoted to the leadership group and, as of this week, earnt a contract extension until 2027.

Crows coach Matthew Nicks said the 27-year-old had helped drive the club’s culture, describing him as the ultimate teammate.

Ben Keays has become vital to the Crows. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He’s taught so many of these guys what it is to be a professional footballer,” Nicks said.

“There’s not many that work as hard as he does.

“It’s just a never-give-up attitude.

“The teams that ultimately get the job done have a Ben Keays in their side, that ultimate professional who works hard and just gives everything.”

Keays has not missed a match since making his club debut for Adelaide in round 2, 2020.

Initially a midfielder, the Queenslander has transformed into a hard-running half-forward.

He played a crucial role in the Crows’ first win of the year on Saturday, kicking three goals and registering a season-high 20 disposals against Carlton.

In light of Keays re-signing, we have put together a list of 10 modern career resurrections.

To qualify, a player must have been delisted from 2000 onwards.

We have favoured footballers who had limited game time at their initial club then turned their careers around after being recruited off the AFL scrap heap.

Players who sought trades that ultimately fell over, such as Tim Membrey and Bachar Houli, were overlooked.

THE GREATEST AFL CAREER REVIVALS

1. CRAIG BOLTON

First club: Brisbane (delisted in 2002 after 29 games)

Revival: Sydney (170 games from 2003-10)

A grand final emergency at the Lions, Bolton was axed after two knee injuries in successive seasons then went on to become an ultra-reliable defender with the Swans, co-captaining them from 2008-10, playing in the 2005 flag and twice being named an All-Australian.

2. ANDREW CARRAZZO

First club: Geelong (delisted in 2003 after 0 games)

Revival: Carlton (194 games from 2004-15)

Won the Cats’ VFL best-and-fairest while on the club’s senior list, but could not get an AFL game, only to resurrect his career at the Blues, starting as a rookie then becoming a John Nicholls Medallist in 2007.

3. ED CURNOW

First club: Adelaide (delisted in 2008 after 0 games)

Revival: Carlton (221 games from 2011-23)

When Curnow’s Crows tenure ended, he returned to Victoria, became a star at Box Hill and earned an AFL resurrection at the Blues, where he was a hardworking midfielder and three-time best club man winner.

Curnow left the Crows before becoming a stalwart at Carlton.

4. TYSON STENGLE

First clubs: Richmond, Adelaide (traded in 2018 then delisted in 2021 after a total of 16 games)

Revival: Geelong (49 games from 2022 to now)

Off-field indiscretions led the Crows to part ways with Stengle and he finished the 2021 season as a SANFL premiership player. Geelong gave him another chance and he repaid it superbly in 2022, getting All-Australian honours in a premiership campaign.

5. JAMES PODSIADLY

First clubs: Essendon, Collingwood (delisted in 2001 and 2002 after a total of 0 games),

Revival: Geelong (83 games from 2010-13)

A memorable mature-age success, Podsiadly spent eight years outside the AFL, lining up for VFL clubs Werribee and Geelong, before joining the Cats at the age of 28. In 2011, he led Geelong’s goalkicking and played in the club’s premiership.

6. JOEL PATFULL

First club: Port Adelaide (delisted in 2004 after 0 games)

Revival: Brisbane (182 games from 2008-14)

Never got an opportunity in two seasons at the Power then debuted against Port and became a quality defender at the Lions, winning consecutive best-and-fairests in 2012-13.

Joel Patfull began his career at the Power.

7. SHANE TUCK

First club: Hawthorn (delisted in 2001 after 0 games)

Revival: Richmond (173 games from 2004-13)

Overlooked as a father-son selection then cut after two years at the Hawks, Tuck relaunched his AFL career via SANFL club West Adelaide then became an ultra-reliable player for the Tigers, finishing in the top three of their best-and-fairest three times.

8. BEN KEAYS

First club: Brisbane (delisted in 2019 after 30 games)

Revival: Adelaide (88 games from 2020 to present)

From fringe Lion to a Crows leader, Keays is a terrific story of persistence and resilience, having finished no lower than ninth in Adelaide’s best-and-fairest in each of his four seasons at the club.

9. SAM COLLINS

First club: Fremantle (delisted in 2017 after 14 games)

Revival: Gold Coast (95 games from 2019 to present)

Collins has become a key cog in the Suns’ defence since joining the club as a mature-age selection after being named in the VFL’s Team of the Year in 2018.

10. MARK HUTCHINGS

First club: St Kilda (delisted in 2010 after 0 games)

Revival: West Coast (120 games from 2013-21)

Received his second shot at AFL level after finishing runner-up in the Sandover Medal in 2012 and went on to become a long-time tagger who played in two grand finals, including the Eagles’ 2018 flag, where he kept Steele Sidebottom quiet.

Toughest cuts: Nick Holman (Carlton/Gold Coast), Josh Mahoney (Western Bulldogs/Port Adelaide)

Originally published as Crows star Ben Keays continues to be one of AFL’s great career revivals