Gold Coast has acquired mature-aged key defender Tom Keough from West Adelaide with selection No. 3 in Friday morning’s rookie draft.
 
The 24-year-old emerged as one of the best backmen outside the AFL in 2015 following a dominant season in the SANFL.
 
Keough enjoyed a breakout year in South Australia, winning a premiership with the Bloods, as well as earning a maiden state guernsey against Western Australia.
 
He won the coveted Fos Williams medal as the SANFL’s best player against the Sandgropers following a stunning lockdown job on recently drafted Fremantle playmaker Shane Yarran.
 
Gold Coast recruiting manager, Dom Ambrogio, is confident Keough can have an impact at AFL level in 2016, describing the high school teacher as a reliable defensive key post.
 
“He’s a tall defender from West Adelaide. He played in a premiership over there and was South Australia’s best player in the state game this year against Western Australia,” Ambrogio told goldcoastfc.com.au following the rookie draft.
 
“He’s got great recovery, a very accomplished tall defender and we think he can have an impact at AFL level.”
 
Keough’s main asset is his ability to play on a wide range of opponents, varying in height and size. He played an influential role in snapping a 32-year premiership drought at West Adelaide, seeing the Bloods rise from ninth to first.