DECLAN Keilty was so excited about his Casey teammates Tim Smith and Oscar McInerney being selected in the recent NAB AFL Rookie Draft that he didn’t realise he too had also joined them on an AFL list.

Smith, selected by Melbourne at No.25, and Oscar McInerney, who was claimed by the Brisbane Lions at No.37, were chosen before Keilty, who takes up the story after he was recruited with Melbourne’s last pick at No.41.

“I came home from work at about 3:30pm and started mowing the lawn and one of my roommates said ‘it’s (the Rookie Draft) on, if you want to have a look’. So I got on my phone and Tim Smith was called out first and once I saw his name, I started celebrating a bit,” he told Melbourne TV.  

“I put the phone down and came back about 10 minutes later and my phone was going off as well, with phone calls and messages. People were saying I’d been picked up by Melbourne, so I actually didn’t find out [I was drafted] until about 10 minutes afterwards. But I was pretty happy to be picked up, so I wasn’t complaining.

“I’m absolutely stoked for Tim and I’m happy myself that we were picked up, and I’m happy for Oscar, as he’s had an exceptional year and hopefully he does well up in Queensland.”  

Keilty, whose surname rhymes with ‘guilty’, trained with Melbourne early in 2016 and said that period helped his football immensely and the fact that he got to know many of his future teammates.

He was also aware that Melbourne national recruiting manager Jason Taylor had kept a close eye on him his Gippsland Power days in the TAC Cup, but he didn’t think about it too much as his football career progressed with Casey.

“My first year at Power, when I was top age, I talked to him (Taylor) a little bit,” he said.

“They (Melbourne) said they’d keep an eye on me. Between then and here, it was a little bit quiet, except for this year, with being in the alignment and having a fair bit to do with Melbourne.”

“I knew they were keeping an eye on me, but it wasn’t my reason for coming to Casey, but it’s turned out pretty well for me.”

Keilty said a few clubs spoke to him, but Melbourne showed the most “genuine interest”.

“I thought if they (Melbourne) weren’t going to pick me up, I didn’t think anyone else would. But in the back of mind, I just wanted [to be drafted by] Melbourne,” he said.

“If I had an option between every club, Melbourne would’ve always been number one for me – especially this year with the alignment and being in close quarters with them.

“It’s probably turned out the best, but I didn’t have much interest [in going to any other clubs] besides Melbourne.”

Keilty played junior football for Newborough and then played seniors for Moe, when he was 16 years old. He then moved to Gippsland Power as a top age player at 18.

After attending the NAB AFL Draft Combine, Keilty missed out on being drafted and then played as a 19-year-old for the Power. He then moved to Casey, where he played for the past two years.

“I was still a little bit still underdeveloped then and I am a bit now, but I’ve improved over this past 12 months, which I think Melbourne has seen. Hopefully, they believe me that I can do it again in a couple of more months,” he said.

“I think that development in me – in my physique and skills have been a great increase this year than it was when I was 18.”

A versatile player, Keilty played up forward for Gippsland Power. He had never played in the backline, but spent some time in the ruck. Since being at Casey, Keilty has played the majority of his football in the backline. He also spent some time on the wing in one match against Sandringham this year.

Now, playing down back is Keilty’s preferred position, but he’s happy to play anywhere, given the opportunity that has now been presented.

“I was an apprentice electrician and I was waking up at 5:30am most mornings and starting work at 7am.”

“It was the same as Tim [Smith, who was a plumber] … I’d finish at 3.30pm and head straight to training. I live in Pakenham and worked around the Clayton area, so it took around an hour to get to work.

“By the time I got out to Casey, it was about 4.30 or 5pm, so I’d get stuck into weights and do reviews with the coaches and then get stuck into training.”

Keilty said his first three months at Casey was incredibly hard, combing work with footy. But he added that the rewards were worth it.

“I came up from Moe to the city and was working full-time … but you get used to it and determination kicks over. If you want to do it, you’ll do it, and I just loved it, so nothing else was going to stop me from doing it,” he said.

“I’m pretty proud of [being drafted], especially with Tim. He’s been there for five seasons and he’s been an absolute inspiration to anyone – especially to boys who think they’re going to get picked up from the TAC Cup or under 18s and they’re a bit disheartened.

“It’s a great doorway for them to go, if they still want to have a crack. You’ve just got to put in the effort and I think Tim is a perfect example of that.”

So is Keilty.