It’s the end of an era for dual-premiership player Ryan O’Keefe, who will part ways with the club he’s called home for the last 15 years at the end of this season.



The 33-year-old, will depart as one of the Sydney Swans greatest players, departing the club after two premierships, a Norm Smith medal and 286 games in the red and white.



Speaking to SwansTV after informing his team mates, O’Keefe said the decision was one of the toughest he’s had to make.



“The decision has been difficult, but I suppose it has come down to opportunity,” O’Keefe said.



“I realised that my time here and my opportunities, with the way the team’s going and with the young players coming in and developing, it’s the right time for me to move on.



“It’s been difficult to let go, being here for 15 years.



“I feel like I’ve been a big part of (the club) and have helped build the club and build the culture to what it is today, so to let go is the difficult part because this place has been such a big part of my life and such a big influence.



“I believe I’m a better person from being here, so it’s been huge.”



O’Keefe, who made his debut back in 2000 after being recruited to the club at pick 56 in the 1999 National Draft, developed into one of the Swans’ most consistent players and sits in fourth place on the club’s games record list behind Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Michael O’Loughlin.



Known for his on-field intensity and meticulous preparations, O’Keefe’s reputation as a ‘big game’ player was exemplified during the 2012 finals series, with the tenacious midfielder averaging a massive 33 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 11 tackles and eight clearances per match across the Swans’ three matches.



His incredible 15-tackle performance in the Swans’ 10-point Grand Final victory over Hawthorn earned him the Norm Smith Medal, the only player in the club’s history to receive the honour.



With 24 finals under his belt, the second most for any player to wear the red and white, O’Keefe said he took great pride in both his and the team’s performance in 2012.



“That finals series was great,” he said.



“We were just in sync as a team and I just felt like I was playing the best footy of my life then.



“It was just such a great experience to have success with a group of friends you’ve worked so hard for and with.



“I’m pretty proud of that era.”



O’Keefe said the great rivalry between the Swans and the West Coast Eagles in the mid-2000s was also a highlight of his career, as well relationships he’d developed with his team mates over the years.



“Obviously it’s the big finals we’ve played in (were highlights), including the rivalry we had with West Coast over that period,” he said.



“But (the highlights have) also just been just hanging out with friends and all that locker room banter and trips away and stuff like that.



“There are just so many different memories along the way that makes it a rewarding experience.”



Swans fans will have their chance to pay tribute to O’Keefe this weekend, when he completes a lap of honour at half-time of Saturday’s round 23 clash against Richmond at ANZ Stadium.



O’Keefe said he was looking forward to being able to acknowledge the thousands of Swans members and fans that have supported him across the journey.



“This club has been such a big part of my life and I just wanted to thank everyone along the journey,”

he said.



“To be able to thank everyone on the weekend will be special, and that was the purpose, just to thank everyone who has been a part of the club and those who have made my journey so special.



“I’m definitely going to leave this place a better person and it’s going to mould me into what I do in the future.”



While 2014 hasn’t panned out as he had hoped, with the midfielder playing four senior games, O’Keefe still made important contributions around the club throughout the season.



Playing for the Swans reserves in the NEAFL competition, O’Keefe stood up as an influential on-field leader and has dedicated his time to developing some of the club’s best young talent.



O’Keefe said he was looking forward to hopefully guiding the young Swans reserves to a NEAFL premiership and would consider coaching as a pathway once his playing career comes to an end.



“I think coaching is something I’d like to do,” he said.



“I really love footy and I really want to stay involved.



“This year I’ve been able to be a mentor and helped (Jared) ‘Crouchy’ coach the reserves, which has been good.



“We’ve still got a couple more games to go and we’re going to go for the Grand Final, so I’m not finished just yet.”





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