WHEN HUDSON O’Keeffe signed on at Carlton as a supplemental selection period signing in February of 2023, he was always deemed a project player.
Completing just one session with the Blues before being signed on, O’Keeffe has steadily gone about his business, with the 200cm ruckman lauded for his professionalism and work ethic ever since stepping foot into IKON Park.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Keith McInnes)
It’s been a slow grind for O’Keeffe as part of the unofficially official ‘Kreuzer Academy’ at IKON Park, which he, Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning regard themselves as collectively under the tutelage of the former Blues cult hero.
After a frustrating run with hamstring injuries in 2024, this year threatened to get away from O’Keeffe when he went down again in the opening VFL practice match against Sandringham - but he wasn’t going to let that define him.
“Previous to all those injuries, I’d never really missed a game - it’s pretty tough, you do start to second guess yourself,” O’Keeffe told Carlton Media.
“It’s one of those ones when you’re in rehab that it’s a tough period to go through, but you can set yourself to improve on one thing - for me, that was getting strong, plus working on my overhead marking ability.
“I worked hard on that, and I feel like that has translated into games.”
The proof has been in the pudding so far in 2025, with O’Keeffe more and more involved in his VFL performances. He has averaged a goal a game so far this season, with his three-goal showing against Coburg - which also yielded six marks - his best of the bunch.
But it’s been an improvement across the board which has been the biggest positive for O’Keeffe, who re-signed with the Blues last year until at least the end of 2026.
In his first season, O’Keeffe averaged seven disposals and 1.4 marks per game, splitting his time between the ruck and up forward. Last year, that was 8.6 disposals and 1.8 marks per game, having strong performances in a stop-start season.
This year, he’s averaging just shy of 13 disposals and three marks per game, while also throwing his weight around more as a genuine ruck that is also having an impact as a goal-a-game forward.
Working closely in tandem with Marc Pittonet at VFL level prior to the experienced ruckman’s first AFL game last week, O’Keeffe’s progression continues to follow the upward trend he’s been on since day one while also adding an extra string to his bow.
“I’ve started to play a bit more forward time, which I really enjoy and something I look at as an opportunity: I’ve played a lot of ruck over three or four years, so I’m enjoying the change up while still getting a fair bit of ruck time.
“Connecting with some of the tall forwards like Harry Lemmey and [VFL co-captain] Liam McMahon, they’re helping me out heaps.”
Singling out Sam Docherty for the veteran’s support and advice during his time in rehab throughout 2024, O’Keeffe - who mum Lisa said his ‘white-line fever’ was one of his greatest strengths - would continue to go attack a few areas of his game in the weeks and months to come.
“I’m going to keep focusing on my aerial stuff, my competitiveness. I want to put in a good block of games in the VFL to show that I can play at that next level, whether that’s as a forward or as a ruck.
“Keep going at it, keep getting after it.”
