Let’s get physical
Brooksby wins plaudits in blue-collar Suns debut
AN AFL debut does not come much tougher than what Gold Coast Suns mature-age ruckforward Keegan Brooksby encountered.
Aged 25 and up against premiers Hawthorn in chilly and windy Launceston on Saturday, Brooksby did not exactly set the world on fire stats-wise.
Rather, in typical fashion, he worked hard in the trenches and gave a contest – exactly what coach Rodney Eade has been demanding of his troops in tough times for the injury-ravaged club.
“Yes, it was a pretty hard game first-up but I’ve always thought I’d be able to play at that level,” the 2014 South Adelaide best and fairest winner said of his debut that came after being elevated from the rookie list.
“When I first came here I just tried to put my best foot forward and work as hard as I could and see what happened.
“I thought if I put together some good NEAFL performances, and be pretty strong and consistent there, that I could force my way into the team. And that’s what I’ve done.”
One thing about Brooksby is that he is physical, not usually a trait associated with former basketballers. Actually it was in that sport that Brooksby realised he had to be able to throw his body around to make up for a lack of height. He is not small (197cm and 99kg) but in these days of power ruck-forwards he is somewhere in the middle.
Brooksby puts some of his aggression down to the fact his father Phil, who played 278 games in the SANFL, was a hardnosed full-back.
“Playing back home in the SANFL one of the things I was told as a big bloke was that I needed to be aggressive and be physical with the body and use that to help everyone around you,” Brooksby said.
“Even playing basketball it was a bit like that. I had to learn to use my body to my advantage and play with what I had.”
Eade has noted how hard Brooksby is as a competitor and worthy of his shot at the AFL.
“Keegan came up against a very good team and it was always going to be tough but he competed OK and it was encouraging,” Eade said.
“To his credit he wants to work hard and he keeps on improving.”