14 April 2001
The Adelaide Crows expect a lot from their ruckmen. The mob on St Vincents Gulf had a genuine champion in Sean Rehn. With a history of honeycomb knees, the big guy could still appear in the front half to mark and goal. Yet he had the Scott Wynd ability to bob up in the wall across half back and pull down timely grabs. For Rehn a full season of crashing into an opposing tall 40 times a game is on the cards at Glenferrie.The Crows secured a ruckman whose career resembled a sky rocket on Guy Fawkes night. Shone like a bank of lights at Football Park. People pointed in wonder. Then suddenly the phenomenon disappeared. Out into the wide blue yonder. The player in question is Aaron Keating.Big AK was the older brother of Clark Keating at Brisbane. The family came from Surfers Paradise. A theory emerged that Aaron wore a football helmet because he had copped a head injury, not from a succession of knocks on the field but from an incident in a Surfers night spot.At any rate, Aaron landed at SANFL club Norwood. He revealed a solid work ethic and a willingness to put his body into every contest. Keating had a consistent 1996. He had accepted the mantle of number one ruckman after Matthew Primus crossed to Fitzroy for the last season of the real Lions.It was written in the stars that the Crows would aim for big Aaron. The Power traded him to Adelaide in exchange for Scott Hodges. The red, yellow and blue outfit reinforced their faith in the big bloke by awarding him the number 20 guernsey previously worn by John Klug and Matthew Powell. Aaron Keating had a Geminian physique. Almost two people in height and weight. 200 centimetres, 102 kilograms. His AFL career started with some wretched luck as though there was a a spin out in the galaxies of good fortune. During the opening round of 1997 against Brisbane at FP, the K man played with his usual spark. Leaping for every centre bounce and boundary throw in. But 10 minutes into the last Mario Lanza, he jumped at a bounce in the middle and suffered a cork thigh that looked like one of his legs had been given a monstrous blood transfusion. He showed his ticker by limping from Crows Colosseum. Adelaide won the match 20.12 to 14.12. It took a month for both legs to assume the same shape. AK returned via Norwood. And remained giving an armchair ride to ex Saint Anthony Harvey. The big fellow was recalled for the round 19 derby. Port versus Crows. Adelaide won by 7 points. Keating presented all day. In the 1997 grand final. Aaron Keating was selected for his third game. His task was to help combat the St Kilda tall timber. The man competed for 120 minutes. He spoiled and punched the ball from behind to let crumbers such as Bickley gather the VW Sherrin in the open. Keating collected a premiership medal and enjoyed the lap of honour. The following week the helmeted giant played with Norwood in the 1997 SANFL grand final against the Port Adelaide Magpies. The ruckman played his heart out. Norwood won. Aaron accepted his second premiership medallion.Aaron Keating never played another senior AFL game. He was delisted at the end of '98. A career total of three. His third was stratospheric. A cracker of a career.