Past Niall McKeever (2010-2013)

[Grimreepah]

Get to know... Niall McKeever
4:33 PM Fri 07 Oct, 2011

Describe your perfect day off:
Chill out, beach, work on the tan

Best advice received:
Get something out of every training, never get happy with yourself

Greatest non-football achievement:
Beat Australian U23 triathlete in 1km time trial

How would your best friend describe you:
Always up for whatever

 

[Grimreepah]

Adrian Fletcher

What a great story. Who would move 12,000kms to play Aussie Rules when you’ve never picked up a footy? If I was still a player, I’d love to play with Niall. He’s brave, he’ll go back with the flight of the ball, and he’s a team player. We’ve just got to improve his speed to foot, to get the ball to a teammate, because sometimes he can get pressured from behind. But he’s improved on that already and we’ve got high hopes for Niall. He can go for long minutes, and can play on all the key talls down back, and small periods in the ruck to fill that void for us.

 

[Grimreepah]

2011 End of Season Review

by POBT

2010 review

Games: 10
Goals: 1
Sub: on = 0, off = 0
Emergency: 0
Time on ground: 94%
Best and Fairest: 9.5 votes (20th)
Dreamteam: 360 points; $149,200 (+$56,700)
Supercoach: 392 points; $185,900 (+$82,300)
NEAFL:
Games: 7
Goals: 2

Niall McKeever was probably the surprise packet of the 2011 season. A rookie listed player in 2011, he was elevated to the senior list largely out of necessity, only to play 10 senior games and give every indication that has a future in senior footy.

McKeever had a good season in the Reserves, culminating in an impressive performance for Queensland in the interstate match against WA. He played significant minutes in the ruck against an AFL experienced ruckman and was duly named in the best. Injuries to Daniel Merrett and Mitch Clark meant that the Lions were short a tall defender and a back up ruck. McKeever's form in the ruck at reserves and State level gave him the opportunity to play seniors although it would be fair to say that expectations were low. While his debut was hardly spectacular, he competed well, particularly in defensive roles. He certainly improved with more footy and it was a pleasure to watch him learn on the job. Perhaps his most impressive performance was against the Pies and the competition's premier big man in Travis Cloke. While Cloke got hold of him on occasion, McKeever certainly was not disgraced and showed plenty.

McKeever's form tailed off as the season drew to a close. However, it was still a remarkable effort for a young, tall Irishman to do as well as he did given his lack of footy experience. Some of the pieces are there that give hope that McKeever could hold down CHB in the future. He has a massive engine and the height and athleticism to compete in the air with almost any player in the comp. He is aggressive and seems to enjoy the physical contest. However, he lacks bulk and, at age 22, it will be interesting to see if he has the ability to put on more weight. His kicking action would rate among the weirdest in the comp and yet, he managed to minimise disposal errors by foot. It would be nice if he could get the mechanics a little more consistent though.

I don't have a lot of confidence that he is an ongoing option as a 2nd ruck. However, I'd love to see him spend a summer on the weights and in the ear of Merrett and Patfull to learn the deep, dark secrets of playing in defence. Good key position players are hard to find and getting one from Ireland would be a massive boost to our side's development. As it stands, I think he's a long way off being a genuine tall defender but he showed good signs in 2011. Similar development in 2012 and we'll see a pretty good footballer running around in the number 40 jumper.

 

[Grimreepah]

Saints march on to intermediate glory
Thursday 13 October 2011 18:44

There then came a significant moment in the match when Portglenone’s rangy midfielder Niall McKeever - who now plies his trade with the Melbourne Lions in the AFL but was available because his is home on holidays during the off-season in Australia - shot for goal from outside the 20-metre line.

 

[Swanny10]

Why the he'll is his guy playing amateur sport in Ireland in the off-season!!

Surely that can't be allowed in his contract- we need him to stay healthy for 2012?

 

[Hollow Knight]

Why the he'll is his guy playing amateur sport in Ireland in the off-season!!

Surely that can't be allowed in his contract?

Why? Better than him eating pizza and drinking a slab of beer every day?

We let Hanley and Begley do the same thing. I don't see the harm.

 

[Swanny10]

Why? Better than him eating pizza and drinking a slab of beer every day?

We let Hanley and Begley do the same thing. I don't see the harm.

Drinking a slab of beer everyday is what every good Irishman should be doing!

If he ruptures his Acl don't say I didn't warn ya...

 

[Hollow Knight]

Drinking a slab of beer everyday is what every good Irishman should be doing!

If he ruptures his Acl don't say I didn't warn ya...

Or he comes back from Ireland already advanced on his pre-season.

 

[Swanny10]

Or he comes back from Ireland already advanced on his pre-season.

Already the best endurance athlete we've got so it makes little difference IMO.

 

[Quigley]

Reduces the homesickness if he can go back over and play a few games in the offseason. You could get injured at any stage doing what these guys do training wise adn I think let the guy have some fun

 

[Swanny10]

Reduces the homesickness if he can go back over and play a few games in the offseason. You could get injured at any stage doing what these guys do training wise adn I think let the guy have some fun

Tis True.

Still it's unheard of in just about any other professional sport.

Need to keep these Irish boys happy though. I preferred the slab suggestion but whatever it takes

 

[Fatcat08]

Given the low contact nature of the game over there I think the risk of him doing something while playing would be on par or possibly less than the chance of injury in an AFL pre season. Like it was mentioned before if it keeps the irish guys from getting too homesick I don't see the harm too much.

I'm sure he'll be having a few guinness's as well (just taste so much better over there).

Never know may talk us up and do a bit of scouting for us as well.

 

[Grimreepah]

Lions announce key re-signings
3:32 PM Thu 27 Oct, 2011

The towering McKeever, also from Ireland, has been retained as an international rookie after playing the final 10 games of the season following his AFL debut against Fremantle in Round 14.

In an injury-plagued year for the Lions, McKeever was handed his chance as a tall defender in the absence of key position players Daniel Merrett and Brent Staker, and rose magnificently to the occasion.

 

[Grimreepah]

Video: McKeever extends his stay

"I'll be in my third year next year. Obviously making a big trip across from Ireland, it's been a big deal, and the Lions have been like a second home to me. Everyone at the club has been awesome I'm glad to sign a new deal."

I find McKeever harder to understand than Hanley. His speech is a bit camp, which along with the heavy Irish accent, makes it harder to follow.

Glad to hear he's enjoying it in Brisbane. You never can tell, but he seems quite genuine about it.

 

[jackess]

He looks bigger. Which is a good sign.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Camp? Heh Grim... a bit of a difference in accent between Hanley and McKeever is to be expected. They aren't even from the same country!

 

[mpal6]

With Lisle pencilled to play forward, Niall is going to get a fair crack at CHB next season. All the best to him, would be very interesting to watch two irish men "gaelic"ing to each other while rebounding off the defense

 

[Seldom Seen Kid]

Camp? Heh Grim... a bit of a difference in accent between Hanley and McKeever is to be expected. They aren't even from the same country!

Say that to McKeever the next time you come across him and see what his reaction is...

 

[Hollow Knight]

Say that to McKeever the next time you come across him and see what his reaction is...

Settle down. Merely pointing out that their accents are naturally going to be different for geographical reasons.

Was an entirely non-political context, so let's not take it there.

 

[LION UP]

He's just back from weeks at home in Ireland so naturally his brogue becomes thicker. It will wear off.

 

[patfullfankezz]

He'll never lose it though. Doesn't Jimmy Stynes still have his accent?

Also, a bloke who works with my ex was from America-absolutely hilarious listening to him with an American accent using Aussie slang!

 

[Seldom Seen Kid]

Settle down. Merely pointing out that their accents are naturally going to be different for geographical reasons.

Was an entirely non-political context, so let's not take it there.

Sorry mate, I wasn't being serious really

Although looking at pictures of him lately I wouldn't fancy getting on his bad side! Doing some serious bulking up by the looks of things

 

[Grimreepah]

Link ....

Newell clocked a time of 9min 46sec, one second outside the record held by former Lions player and fitness fanatic Shaun Hart. Irishman Niall McKeevar, who played the last half of 2011, finished second in 9.59.

 

[Ironmonger]

Be interesting to see what time he clocks at the end of the pre-season, when he's hopefully carrying an extra four or five kilos of muscle.

 

[LIONHART]

i was surprised initially that niall wasn't elevated to the senior list after his promising showing last season, but then stakers long-term injury means he can play as an elevated rookie anyway. so in hindsight a good move.