Frozen out of senior action for much of 2014, retiring Sydney veteran Ryan O'Keefe insists he could have played on with another AFL club next year, but will instead move onto the fast track for an assistant coaching position.
An elite level half-forward who attained similar status as a midfielder, 33-year-old O'Keefe played 286 senior games and was the club's 2009 best and fairest champion.
He was part of Sydney's 2005 and 2012 premiership teams, getting the Norm Smith Medal in the latter and also played in the Swans losing 2006 grand final side.
But since finishing fifth in last year's best and fairest award, O'Keefe's fall from grace has been brutal.
He has not seen any senior action since round four, with the Swans' match committee opting for younger players in vastly improved speedster Harry Cunningham and rookie list graduate Jake Lloyd.
"I haven't had any bitterness this year at all, otherwise I wouldn't have hung around and did what I did," O'Keefe said on Wednesday.
He earned plaudits for his mentoring of young players in the Swans reserves and now wants to move into coaching.
O'Keefe said with the benefit of hindsight, he probably could have moved clubs after last season.
"I could have played on, (but) I'm really aspiring to coaching and looking at a couple of opportunities," he said.
"There's some good opportunities, too good to pass up to just play somewhere for 12 months. It's the right decision and I'm quite content and looking forward to the next phase."
O'Keefe wouldn't divulge details of the opportunities, but said he was definitely looking at AFL level.
He will join teammate and fellow dual premiership winner Lewis Roberts-Thomson in the AFL grand final motorcade on Saturday, but admitted it could be a difficult experience watching the game.
"Of course I want to be out there,and it will be emotional for a range of reasons, but I'm super excited for the guys,' O'Keefe said.
"Both teams forward lines are very potent, the midfields are on a par. I think it's whoever's defence will hold out will probably win the game."
O'Keefe and Adam Goodes are the only Swans to have played alongside forwards Tony Lockett, Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin and Lance Franklin.
"They've all been absolute champions in their own right," O'Keefe said.
"They are all different, but they've all got the common thing, that they've been able to come to Sydney and perform well."
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