Jessy Keeffe’s tenacity finally pays off with Brisbane AFLW debut
Despite having an AFL player as a brother, Jessy Keeffe wasn’t interested in playing until she watched the 2016 AFL Women’s All Stars match on TV. From that moment she was hooked.
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Jessy Keeffe was hooked the moment she saw the 2016 AFL Women’s All Stars match on TV.
She decided then and there she wanted to be a professional footballer and her dream will become reality on Saturday when she debuts for Brisbane Lions in their grand final re-match with the Bulldogs at Whitten Oval.
Despite having AFL player Lachie Keeffe as a brother, she had never thought about playing until that day.
“I pretty much didn’t know female footy existed until I saw that game on TV,’’ she said.
“I was fascinated. I Googled women’s footy and Yeronga was the first club that came up so I went down there and loved it straight away.’’
The 187cm ruck soon made her mark on the state league where she caught the eye of Lions coach Craig Starcevich.
She was drafted in 2017 but could not break into the side that reached the inaugural AFLW grand final and was on its way to the second.
She admits she feared there may not be the offer of a second contract this year but she had impressed everyone at the Lions with her work ethic.
“I have always prided myself on working hard so pre-season was a real highlight for me, I love that sort of stuff,’’ she said.
“I didn’t get a game my first season, which was pretty tough, but I really didn’t know what to expect and I wasn’t sure if I would be re-signed.
“My focus this year was to work even harder and not go another season without a game.’’
Keeffe, 22, received a call from Lions AFLW boss Bree Brock yesterday morning asking her to come into the office and it was there she got the news she had been waiting for.
“She had Starc (Starcevich) on the speaker phone and he said your hard work has paid off and we have decided to play you,’’ she said.
“Obviously I am extremely stoked, but really I’m just more relieved and ready to go.
“I couldn’t be more ready after all this training without playing a game.’’
Lachie Keeffe made a successful return to AFL football with GWS last year, playing eight senior games, after serving a drugs ban incurred while playing for Collingwood.
Originally published as Jessy Keeffe’s tenacity finally pays off with Brisbane AFLW debut
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