He managed eight games for VFL-affiliate, the Northern Bullants, at the start of 2009 before succumbing to osteitis pubis, and managed only two VFL games in 2010, with hip and back injuries keeping him out for most of the year.
[3][4][5] At the end of two years, with almost no senior football to base its decision on, Carlton opted to move O'Keeffe to the rookie list; due to AFL list management procedures, this was achieved by first delisting O'Keeffe, then re-drafting him in the second round of the 2011 rookie draft (No.
[7] He was elevated to Carlton's senior list in place of the injured Andrew Collins prior to Round 14,[8] and made his first AFL appearance that same week, his only for the 2011 season.
He missed the first half of the 2012 season with a foot injury, and played a further two AFL matches.
[10] He played four more seasons of SANFL football, first with his junior club North Adelaide from 2014 to 2015,[11] then with Glenelg in 2016 and 2017.