TonyK
Tash Jayasinghe
CibbuanoO'Keefe stays a Swan
October 20th 2008 02:14
SYDNEY forward Ryan O'Keefe will finish his career at the Swans after agreeing to a new four-year deal with the club.
O'Keefe, who originally rejected a new three-year deal to remain with Sydney, was unable to be traded back to his native Victoria after Hawthorn and the Swans were unable to come up with a suitable deal during trade week.
The 27-year-old's only other option then was to go into the pre-season draft in December but he risked being picked up by an interstate club with West Coast, Fremantle and Port Adelaide having picks two, three and four respectively.
With his chances of returning to Victoria slim, O'Keefe opted to remain with the Swans.
The deal is yet to be finalised but Sydney coach Paul Roos said on Monday that O'Keefe had come to an 'in-principle' agreement.
"We're really pleased Ryan has chosen to stay with the club," Roos said.
"We've always rated him as a quality player – an All-Australian – and we're delighted he will be lining up with us again next year."
"I think the last few weeks have been difficult for everyone so we are pleased that today's news provides some closure to the matter."
Roos admitted he was unimpressed that O'Keefe had gone through the media to first flag his desire to return to Melbourne but said the way the 164-game veteran handled things won't be held against him.
"There was no animosity at all between Ryan and the Swans or vice versa," he said.
"He was aware we were disappointed with the way the first part of it was handled but that's water under the bridge."
"That's all forgotten. I am confident he has put it all behind him as we have and he'll go on and play some more good footy with the club."
"But I will catch up with him at some stage this week because obviously he wants to make sure from my point of view there are no problems and there's certainly not."
"And I'll get a better understanding of why (he wanted to leave). I will talk through some of those issues and find out whether there's anything else we need to work on moving forward."
O'Keefe said he was glad that the contract saga is finally over and that he is looking forward to next season.'
"For my part I'm relieved and looking to repay the club and Swans supporters for the faith they have shown in me," O'Keefe said.
"Whilst I did have aspirations to move home to Melbourne, it wasn't to be and I'm more than happy to remain at the Swans, to be with my mates and to live in Sydney."
"I've moved on now and my focus is very much on next season and getting the best out of myself."
O'Keefe, who originally rejected a new three-year deal to remain with Sydney, was unable to be traded back to his native Victoria after Hawthorn and the Swans were unable to come up with a suitable deal during trade week.
The 27-year-old's only other option then was to go into the pre-season draft in December but he risked being picked up by an interstate club with West Coast, Fremantle and Port Adelaide having picks two, three and four respectively.
With his chances of returning to Victoria slim, O'Keefe opted to remain with the Swans.
The deal is yet to be finalised but Sydney coach Paul Roos said on Monday that O'Keefe had come to an 'in-principle' agreement.
"We're really pleased Ryan has chosen to stay with the club," Roos said.
"We've always rated him as a quality player – an All-Australian – and we're delighted he will be lining up with us again next year."
"I think the last few weeks have been difficult for everyone so we are pleased that today's news provides some closure to the matter."
Roos admitted he was unimpressed that O'Keefe had gone through the media to first flag his desire to return to Melbourne but said the way the 164-game veteran handled things won't be held against him.
"There was no animosity at all between Ryan and the Swans or vice versa," he said.
"He was aware we were disappointed with the way the first part of it was handled but that's water under the bridge."
"That's all forgotten. I am confident he has put it all behind him as we have and he'll go on and play some more good footy with the club."
"But I will catch up with him at some stage this week because obviously he wants to make sure from my point of view there are no problems and there's certainly not."
"And I'll get a better understanding of why (he wanted to leave). I will talk through some of those issues and find out whether there's anything else we need to work on moving forward."
O'Keefe said he was glad that the contract saga is finally over and that he is looking forward to next season.'
"For my part I'm relieved and looking to repay the club and Swans supporters for the faith they have shown in me," O'Keefe said.
"Whilst I did have aspirations to move home to Melbourne, it wasn't to be and I'm more than happy to remain at the Swans, to be with my mates and to live in Sydney."
"I've moved on now and my focus is very much on next season and getting the best out of myself."
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