O’Keefe, LRT enter Swans Hall of Fame
THE Sydney Swans inducted dual premiership winners Ryan O’Keefe and Lewis Roberts-Thomson into their Hall of Fame at their annual guernsey presentation last night.
O’Keefe is the Swans’ only Norm Smith Medallist from the six grand finals they’ve contested in the past 22 years (1996, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2014 and 2016).
Sydney born and bred Roberts-Thomson, widely known as LRT, is a cult hero among the Sydney faithful, who loved his courageous style and his mop of long, blond hair.
His success in winning two flags and playing 179 games between 2003 and 2014 was remarkable considering he only took up Aussie rules at the age of 14 and had played fewer than 50 games before making his debut at AFL level.
He became known as a grand final specialist, starring in the 2005 win over the West Coast Eagles and backing it up with another strong performance against Hawthorn in 2012.
He was on hand to welcome the newest Swans, including standout Tom McCartin.
O’Keefe had a stellar 286game career at Sydney after being drafted with pick 56 in the 1999 Draft.
Known for his professionalism, toughness and accurate left boot, he won the Bob Skilton Medal in 2009 and All Australian selection in 2006.
He is now an assistant coach at the Adelaide Crows football club.
O’Keefe and RobertsThomson are two of only five Swans players to win two premierships in their 121-year history. Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Vic Belcher are the others.
One of their 2012 premiership heroes, Nick Malceski, has also been honoured after his match-winning goals against the Hawks were added to the club’s heritage list.
Malceski booted the Swans’ first and last goals in the epic match.
His second, a snap shot from 20m out with just 40 seconds left on the clock, sealed the victory.
Malceski is now a development coach with the Gold Coast Suns.
Triple premiership player Denis McKay was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
He played 171 games for South including each of the three consecutive premierships between 1888 and 1890.
The year 2018 also marks the 100-year anniversary of the Swans’ 1918 premiership (The Swans’ second in VFL/ AFL), which will be celebrated in Round 20 when they play Collingwood at the SCG – the team they beat in the grand final.
Sydney will wear a commemorative guernsey to mark the occasion.
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