Television game lit the fuse for Jessy

Keeffe was hooked the moment she saw the 2016 AFL Women’s All Stars match on television.

She decided then and there she wanted to be a professional footballer and her dream will become reality tomorrow when she debuts for the Lions in their grand final rematch with the Bulldogs at Whitten Oval

Despite having AFL player Lachlan Keeffe as a brother, she had never thought about playing until that day.

“I pretty much didn’t know female footy existed until I saw that game on TV,’’ she said.

“I was fascinated, I googled women’s footy and Yeronga was the first club that came up so I went down there and loved it straight away.’’

The 187cm ruck soon made her mark on the state league where she caught the eye of Lions coach Craig Starcevich. She was drafted last year but could not force her way into the side that had made the inaugural AFLW grand final and was on its way to the second.

She admits she feared there may not be the offer of a second contract this year but she had impressed everyone at the Lions with her work ethic.

“I gave it all I had, I have always prided myself on working hard so pre-season was a real highlight for me, I love that sort of stuff,’’ she said.

“I didn’t get a game my first season, which was pretty tough, but I really didn’t know what to expect and I wasn’t sure if I would be re-signed. My focus this year was to work even harder and not go another season without a game.’’

The switch in training schedules this week due to a rare Saturday game meant the usual team announcement did not occur after Wednesday’s training session.

Keeffe, 22, received a call from Lions AFLW CEO Bree Brock on Thursday morning asking her to come into the office and it was there she got the news she had been waiting for.

“She had Starc (coach Craig Starcevich) on the speaker phone and he said your hard work has paid off and we have decided to play you,’’ she said.

“I am extremely stoked, but really I’m just more relieved and ready to go, I couldn’t be more ready after all this training without playing a game.’’

Lachie Keefe made a successful return to AFL football with GWS last year. But a seven year age gap meant she never got the backyard schooling most AFL siblings receive.

“He was off at boarding school and then he was drafted and moved to Melbourne,’’ she said.

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