Ben Keays (born 23 February 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). His great-grandfather Fred Keays represented both Fitzroy and Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Ben Keays | |||
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![]() Keays in April 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
Full name | Ben Keays | ||
Date of birth | (1997-02-23) 23 February 1997 (age 25) | ||
Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria | ||
Original team(s) | Morningside Australian Football Club/Redland (NEAFL) | ||
Draft | No. 24, 2015 national draft (Academy selection) | ||
Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Weight | 89 kg (196 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Adelaide | ||
Number | 2 | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
2016–2019 | Brisbane Lions | 30 (11) | |
2020– | Adelaide | 40 (15) | |
Total | 70 (26) | ||
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 3 2022. | |||
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Keays was named captain of the Adelaide Crows in 2022 due to a long term injury to Rory Sloane.[1]
Born in Melbourne, Keays participated in the Auskick program at Hampton, Victoria.[2] Keays moved to Brisbane at five years of age[3] and continued playing Auskick at te Morningside Australian Football Club.[2] He attended St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace throughout his schooling years.[4] His great grandfather, Fred, played football for Fitzroy and Collingwood between 1919-1922 and served in both World War I and II.[5] His great uncle, Desmond, also played football for Fitzroy[6] while his uncle, Terry, played for Collingwood and Richmond. Ben began playing junior football for the Morningside Panthers[7] and was placed in the Brisbane Lions talent academy at the age of 14.[8] He was selected to represent Queensland in the 2014 and 2015 AFL Under 18 Championships,[9][10][11] and was selected in the 2014 and 2015 All-Australian teams.[12][13] He also captained Queensland to their first division 2 title in nine years at the 2015 AFL Under 18 Championships[14] and won the 2015 Hunter Harrison Medal for his performances across the three games.[15][16][17]
Keays was recruited by the Brisbane Lions with their third selection and 24th overall in the 2015 national draft.[18] He was the second academy selection for Brisbane after they matched a bid by the Western Bulldogs.[19]
Keays made his AFL debut for Brisbane in round 6, 2016 against the Sydney Swans.[20] He won the Andrew Ireland Medal as best afield in the 2017 NEAFL Grand final, amassing 30 disposals, 9 tackles and 2 goals.[21] He was delisted at the conclusion of the 2019 AFL season. Keays was later picked up by the Adelaide Crows at Pick 7 in the 2019 AFL Rookie Draft. [22]
Keays enjoyed a breakout 2020 AFL season, playing 16 games for the Crows. He finished 5th in the Malcolm Blight Medal and won the Players Trademark award.
He received competition-wide recognition with an impressive 2021 AFL season which was rewarded with a 2nd place finish in the Malcolm Blight Medal. [23] Keays shocked the AFL with an elite disposal average of 28.1 throughout the home and away season, as well as polling 11 votes in the 2021 Brownlow Medal. [24] In October of 2021, he signed a contract which would keep him at the Adelaide Crows until the end of 2024. [25]
Adelaide Football Club – current squad | |
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* denotes rookie listed players |
2020 AFL rookie draft | |
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First round |
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Second round |
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Third round |
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Fourth round |
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