The Victorian-born forward left the club’s 2008 best and fairest surrounded by controversy after declaring his intent to return to his home state.
The Swans duly pursued a trade with reigning premier Hawthorn but failed to strike a deal, leaving O’Keefe stranded north of the Murray River.
However, the 2005 premiership player refused to dwell on his misfortune, signing a new four-year deal that effectively made him a Swan for life.
That decision paid off in spades for both player and club on Friday night when the 28-year-old won his first Bob Skilton Medal ahead of Rhyce Shaw and Brett Kirk.
O’Keefe admitted that he had been wary of the reception waiting for him from the Bloods faithful after his attempt to change clubs.
“I was a little bit hesitant, not so much with the players or internally at the club, but with fans and members,” he said.
“I wasn’t quite sure what sort of response I’d get from them. I suppose after a while they warmed to me again, though.”
His repatriation was helped by his outstanding form during a trying season in which the Swans missed the finals for the first time in seven years.
A move into the midfield early in the season was the catalyst for O’Keefe’s career-best year and he said it couldn’t have come sooner.
“I’ve tried to push in there for a while, actually, and the coaches were a little bit hesitant,” he said.
“Finally, against Geelong, they gave in and said ‘We’ll let you go in there’ and I haven’t looked back since. It’s helped me be more influential on the game and I’ve really just made sure that I’ve taken the opportunity.”
The contrast between the past two off-seasons wasn’t lost on O’Keefe, either.
After the controversy and uncertainty of 2008, O’Keefe heads into 2010 as the reigning club champion, an integral part of the club’s midfield and a new father after his wife Tara, gave birth to a son, Levi, five days before the best and fairest.
“Twelve months ago, it was a whole different experience at this thing,” he said.
“I’m on a massive high this week.”
