Life Membership Dream Comes True

By Chris Pike

BEN Keevers grew up supporting Subiaco, selling programs and running the scoreboard as he dreamed of a career that sees him earn life membership this Saturday against East Perth on top of his three premierships and three appearances for Western Australia. Keevers has been a star with Subiaco over his first 149 games since debuting back in 2000 after coming right through the development ranks and colts after supporting the Lions growing up. By 2003, he had cemented himself in the team and as one of the very best creative defenders in the league over the last decade that has seen him be a regular of Subiaco's successful teams and of WA line-ups.

The 27-year-old could only dream of playing for Subiaco when supporting the club growing up, but now to look back on everything he has achieved he still has to sometimes pinch himself. "I grew up with a Lions jumper on as a kid, I sold programs at the footy when I was 11 or 12 and my first job at Subi was as the scoreboard attendant for the colts when I'd try to pinch footies out the back. I'm just so proud to be able to be a one-club player with the team I grew up following," Keevers said.

"Your debut is the first milestone and if I look back then to what I've achieved now I wouldn’t have thought it was possible. To play in three flags, have some great coaches and play with some of my best mates are the big things about my time at the footy club. To also be successful has been fantastic." 

Keevers still rates the 2004 premiership, Subiaco first since 1988 despite three losing grand final and 11 finals appearances in between, as the highlight.

He also starred in the successes of 2006 and 07 and was on his way to doing that until a groin injury ravaged his 2008 campaign and eventually saw him not picked for the grand final win over Swan Districts.  He has tasted a full range of emotions, but the winning grand finals are the greatest highlight of his career.  "They are all fantastic but the feeling of winning a premiership when you've never won one before and we had so many knockers saying we were chokers, and to actually prove them wrong was great. Winning a grand final for the first time you don’t know what to expect and although the second and third ones were brilliant, you had experienced it before. The first one holds a special place," he said.  "That was murder, it was just awful. As happy as I was for the boys, it's not something you think can happen and when it does nothing can prepare you for it. It definitely gave me the drive for the next year to come back and work even harder though. It's not something I can do anything about, but it will sit there and be something I look back on wishing I was part of."

While watching the grand final in 2008 from the sidelines was tough, it certainly inspired Keevers to an outstanding 2009 that saw him again represent WA in the win over South Australia and be a key to the defence. He has again had a good 2010 season as well.  "I got over a bit of injury and that was the main thing, and I had the best pre-season I've ever had. I was lucky enough to come back last year and play every game, including the state game and on a personal level it was good to come back with something to prove," Keevers said.

"I've played every game this year and it's not the best season I've had, and I'm probably not really happy with how I've played. I haven’t been as consistent as last year so especially for the rest of the season I want to make sure I'm a strong contributor." Keevers will again share his milestone with a teammate, this time Blake Broadhurst who plays game No. 100, just like he did on grand final day 2007. He reflects back on that day fondly as he does on his debut in Round 3, 2000. "My 100th was in the 2007 grand final and obviously we had a great win. We were the underdogs that day against Claremont and I got to run out with Brad Smith and Jarrod Schofield so that was special," he said. "I was 17 still at the time and it was the third round of the year against Claremont when Kevan Sparks gave me my first game. We played down at Claremont Oval and it was the game when Chris Lewis went bananas and got sent off, so that's what I remember. I don’t remember much but I do recall singing the song with the boys and I was happy because it was my only game of the year."

Keevers' work with the Homebuyers Centre is increasingly making time for football difficult and he's yet to decide whether or not to play on in 2010. With Allistair Pickett, Chad Cossom, Marc Webb, Luke Newick and Phil Read also a chance to join other retirees of recent years Brad Smith, Caine Hayes, David Mapleston, Jarrod Schofield, Daniel Chick and Mark Haynes it's a real changing of the guard at the Lions. "I'm probably coming towards the end and I haven’t made up my mind about playing on next year or not. Work commitments are quite large after hours and on weekends so it's a bit of a juggle. Whether it's straight away or down the track, I'd like to always think I can offer something to Subi and help out somehow. Whether I coach I don’t know, I might need a bit of a break first," he said. "It's just reality really when guys get to a certain age and have different things in their life and move on. When we were younger we had guys like Richard Maloney, Tony Godden and Richard Ambrose who were there and now it's our turn as senior players to be there and pass on what we've learned to the younger guys, and we've got some good ones coming through."

No matter whether or not Keevers plays on, he's tremendously proud of everything he's achieved with the club that he's loved all his life.  "The main thing is to play senior footy at the club for 10 or 11 years, I've met some fantastic people and made some mates for life. We've been through good and bad times too even though it's been predominantly good," Keevers said.  "The premierships are definitely the icing on the cake and the things that I will remember along with the first game, 100th game and the milestone games.

"If I look back on my career and the success we had with the premierships as a team then that is obviously the main thing, but if I said when I started that I would get life membership I probably thought that was a bit out of reach.  "To finally be here now and get it means a hell of a lot along with those premierships. To be a life member of the team you grew up following is probably the best personal success you can have."