With that in mind, one moment that stands out for O’Keefe was deep in September last season, when he and Jarrad McVeigh chaired off their great friend and long-time team mate, Jude Bolton following the Swans’ preliminary final loss to Fremantle in Perth.
Speaking to SwansTV for Volkswagen’s Photo Moments, O’Keefe said chairing off Bolton, who he played alongside at the Swans for 14 seasons was an honour.
“It was a pretty special moment because Jude and I have played footy together since we were 15, so we even played juniors together,” O’Keefe told SwansTV.
“Up here at the Swans we played a lot of footy together, so to be able to chair him off for his last game was a very special and emotional moment for me.
“People often ask about the big games, but playing in milestones with friends just makes it extra special.
“He was a great team mate and a great player to play with, and more importantly, a really great friend.”
Earlier in 2013, O’Keefe, Bolton and Adam Goodes reached another special milestone, with the trio breaking the record for most games played together.
The three Swans notched up their 254th league game together in the club’s round 13 clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium – 13 years after Goodes, Bolton and first-gamer O’Keefe took to the field in the same team against the Western Bulldogs on Mothers’ Day in 2000.
O’Keefe said while the milestone came as a surprise to the trio, it was one that meant a lot to all three players.
“Just to be able to share our careers together and go through some really good highs, and sometimes some lows, was really special, but we definitely had more ups than downs,” he said.
“It was another special sort of milestone that you don’t really think about when you’re playing.
“I don’t think the three of us really thought about it at all until it happened, and we thought it was pretty cool to be a part of AFL history and for three guys to play the most games together.”
While the trio have shared countless on-field successes together, O’Keefe said the best part about their friendship was that it would continue long after their football careers had come to an end.
“Jude and Goodesy were great team mates, so to share all of those moments and games and bumps and bruises, it’s just been a great career to be able to play with two fantastic guys,” he said.
“To be able to achieve the pinnacle together twice was pretty special.
“I’m sure that when we’re old and all of our kids are grown up, I’m sure all three of us will tell them how good we were and reminisce over some of those great memories we’ve had.”
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