A BELOW-par pre-season led to Ryan O'Keefe's slide down the Sydney Swans' pecking order and his omission from the original team named to face Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
One of the most decorated players on the Swans' list, O'Keefe's listing as an emergency for the season-opener at Spotless Stadium raised plenty of eyebrows.
There were queries over whether the Norm Smith medallist and former club champion was carrying a knock.
But AFL.com.au can reveal O'Keefe's efforts in the pre-season simply didn't match some of his teammates.
A back injury to Kieren Jack on the morning of the game ultimately gave O'Keefe a reprieve of sorts, brought in as the sub and playing the final quarter of the 32-point loss.
The 33-year-old, who has now made 283 appearances for the Swans, still has plenty of time to improve his work-rate and reclaim his spot.
But his coach John Longmire says the competition is fierce.
"We'd had a number of blokes likes (Luke) Parker and (Tom) Mitchell and (Harry) Cunningham, who'd had really good pre-seasons and had been playing well," Longmire said.
"(O'Keefe) was obviously disappointed with not being part of the 22 and then got the call-up on Saturday morning (to replace Jack)."
It is a significant fall for O'Keefe, who is known as a relentless trainer and one of the fittest, most dedicated players on the Swans' list.
Only in January this year, during a training camp in Coffs Harbour, a confident O'Keefe talked boldly of his plans to play into 2015 and beyond.
"You hit 30-plus and all of a sudden it's 'when are you going to retire?'" he said.
"That drives me even more. You get a question about how many years you've got left – I've got as many years as I want.
"I'll keep going until I've had enough."
Another Swan who could be contemplating his footballing mortality is young defender Alex Johnson.
Having had a traditional reconstruction and the LARS procedure over the past year, Johnson will take a few days before determining his next step.
"He sits down in front of you and you can't help but feel for him," said Longmire following a meeting with the likeable defender on Monday.
"He worked so hard to get himself back into playing and was looking terrific on the training track.
"I know he only lasted 10 minutes, but he looked bloody good for that 10 minutes and to happen so easily and so quickly was just devastating for him.
"Outwardly he's pretty resilient and putting on a brave face.
"Inwardly I imagine he's how you would expect, devastated and disappointed and it'll take a few days for him to get over that feeling.
"But he looks pretty determined to get on with the next part of the operation and the rehab again."
Longmire was waiting for a report on Jack and Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who picked up a groin injury against GWS, but was hopeful both would be fit to face the Pies in a fortnight.
