Ben Keays

Recruited via the Brisbane Lions Academy with pick 24 in the 2015 National Draft, Ben Keays arrived at the top level with a reputation as a prolific junior ball-winner. However, he struggled to translate that dominance into a consistent senior role at the Gabba, often finding himself deployed out of position or stuck on the fringes of a deepening midfield rotation. After managing just 30 games across four seasons, Keays was delisted at the end of 2019, leaving his AFL career hanging by a thread before Adelaide offered him a lifeline in the Rookie Draft.

The move to West Lakes sparked an immediate and dramatic career revival. Keays reinvented himself as one of the competition’s premier two-way runners, initially cementing his spot as a run-with midfielder who could nullify opposition stars while accumulating possession himself. He became a staple of the Crows' engine room during a rebuilding phase, securing podium finishes in the Malcolm Blight Medal in consecutive years. As the team developed, Keays evolved again, shifting into a high-pressure half-forward role where his gut running and ability to hit the scoreboard made him a dangerous offensive threat. Now a member of the leadership group, he stands as a testament to persistence and remains a vital cog in the Adelaide lineup.