The former Gaelic player from County Antrim was hoping to follow in the footsteps of a number of his fellow compatriots who had successfully transitioned from their traditional code to one with an oval-shaped ball.
After a brief apprenticeship as a Brisbane Lions rookie, the 22 year-old now finds himself ready to represent his new home of Queensland for the first time in a State representative match.
McKeever was named on the interchange of Queensland’s State team that will face Western Australia this weekend over in Perth.
It is due reward for McKeever who has been a standout contributor for the Lions Reserves in a variety of roles from full-back and full-forward to the ruck.
The international export looks set to be the latest success story from the Emerald Isle, following in the footsteps of team-mate Pearce Hanley who has established himself as a regular senior player in 2011.
The Queensland side is essentially made up from the best players across the NEAFL Northern Conference, so it is a huge honour for McKeever to be the only Lions player selected.
Fellow rookie Mitch Golby was also named in Queensland’s initial squad, but became ineligible after he was elevated to the Lions’ senior list late last week.
McKeever will join a selection of former Lions players in the side including Paul Shelton (Morningside), Joel Tippett (Gold Coast), Albert Proud (Mt Gravatt), Scott Clouston (Redland) and Adam Spackman (Morningside).
Western Australia will go in as warm favourites considering they remain unbeaten against Queensland since 1915.
The ‘Black Swans’ are made up from the best players in the WAFL competition including former West Coast premiership player Ashley Hansen and former North Melbourne utility Josh Smith.
The full Queensland line-up for Saturday is as follows:
B: Josh Vearing, Gavin Grose, Caleb Brown
HB: Danny Wise (capt), Joel Tippett, Adam Spackman
C: Nathan Gilliland, Paul Shelton (vc), Kallen Geary
HF: Albert Proud, Scott Clouston, Kent Abey
F: Dayne Zorko, Darren Ewing, Jake Crawford
R: Shaun Tapp, Cameron Ilett (vc), Matty Payne
IN: Niall McKeever, Iggy Vallejo, Ryan Davey, Chris Smith, Trent Manzone
EMG: Reece Toye, Josh Pullman
