IT’S A busy evening in Melbourne’sRoyal Childrens’ Hospital as Ryan O’Keefe pays a visit to one of the Swans’most ardent fans.
Seven-year-old Jessy appears to own every form of Swans’merchandise possible and he wants Ryan to sign all of it. But after signingeverything from caps, to posters to bed blankets and even Jessy’s arm, thetalented forward admits it’s not a record amount of signatures that he’sprovided.
“I didn’t even know we had some of this stuff (themerchandise), but it’s not the most I’ve signed. I’ve done plenty more thanthat,” O’Keefe says.
“You don’t mind, especially for children like Jessy who areso genuine. Doing that small thing takes nothing for us. When you walk in, thesmile on the children’ face makes it all worth it.”
When O’Keefe announces it’s time to get back to histeammates, Jessy and his siblings decide they’ll accompany him down to thehospital lobby.
When they almost follow him out into his taxi, theexcitement is at its peak. O’Keefe admits that sometimes it’s a bitoverwhelming.
“They’re all excited. They look up to you. I don’t feel anymore special than anyone else. The kids do idolise you and it’s humbling,”O’Keefe says.
Although the 26-year-old is cabbing it, it’s not his usualmode of transport. O’Keefe, who is known for his high level of fitness, has asecret training tool.
“I cycle to training. It’s only about five and a half kilometresfrom my house, so I enjoy it. Unless it’s pouring rain, then I might take thecar. It’s a good alternative. You take the load off the legs and joints. Itgives you aerobic fitness without that wear and tear on the body,” O’Keefesays.
O’Keefe reveals that for a time, his teammates even got thecycling bug too, but many of them prefer more sophisticated means of transportto training.
“A few of the boys started riding but they only ride duringthe summer when it’s warmer. Barry Hall loves his cars. He’s got a new carevery week. He’s turned over more cars than I’ve had hot dinners,” O’Keefesays.
And that would be quite a few, as the one of the Swans’star’s favourite pastimes is cooking.
“I’m very passionate about my food and cooking and hopefullyone day I might open up a restaurant. That’s the long term plan anyway,”O’Keefe says.
However the culinary enthusiast thinks he’d leave thecooking for the restaurant to a hired chef.
“It might be fun to go in there once in a while and cook butI’d have to hire a professional and I could just run the place,” O’Keefe says.
If only it were as easy for the Swans’ to get the recipe fortheir season right at the moment. O’Keefe admits that it’s frustrating that theteam just can’t seem to get consistency into their game.
“Over the last few years we might have started slowly andthen we consistently build into it. We’re not far away. We’re in strikingdistance of the top four. We know as a collective group we can get it togetherand once we do we’re a formidable group,” O’Keefe says.
With six wins out of 11 games so far, the Swans aren’t wherethey’d like to be but O’Keefe warns the team’s critics against underestimatinghis side.
“The last time people underestimated us we won the premiership,so if people want to do that again it’s to their own peril. We’ve just got tokeep working hard at it and make sure we’re doing everything possible to steerthe ship. Once things click in we’ll be fine,” O’Keefe says.
The All-Australian says he’s grown tired of listening tocommentators criticise the Swans’ brand of football.
“I think a lot of people who have an opinion on footballhaven’t got an idea. They don’t really know what’s going on. I don’t thinkanyone could comment on our game style unless they’ve actually sat in our meetingsand seen what we want to do,” O’Keefe says.
“A lot of our stuff is determined by the opposition. You cansee that a lot of teams have changed, especially this year. I think that mightbe because of us so you’ve got to be a little bit flattered about that.”
Whether he’s flattered or not, you get the feeling that thisparticular footballer and this particular team will be determined to prove thedoubters wrong in the second half of the season.
