Mark Keane

Mark Keane, born on March 17, 2000, in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland, established himself as a dedicated athlete from a young age. He played both hurling and Gaelic football, representing Cork at the U20 level in football. His athletic abilities captured the attention of an Australian Football League recruiter in 2017 during a North Cork match. Following impressive performances at the 2017 AFL European Combine in Dublin, Keane was offered a contract with the Collingwood Football Club, marking the beginning of his journey into professional Australian rules football.

Keane joined Collingwood as a Category B rookie in 2018 after a two-week trial. He made his AFL debut in the 2020 season, playing one game. He continued with Collingwood in 2021, appearing in four matches. In January 2022, Keane made the decision to return to Ireland due to the Covid-19 pandemic, where he rejoined Gaelic football with Mitchelstown GAA. During this period, he notably scored a late goal for Cork against Kerry in the 2020 Munster Senior Football Championship, contributing to a significant upset.

His return to Australia came in 2023 when he signed with the Adelaide Football Club during the pre-season supplemental signing period. Keane made his Adelaide debut in Round 20 against Port Adelaide and played four more games in 2023. The 2024 season marked a turning point in his AFL career, as he became a consistent presence in Adelaide’s defense, playing 21 games. He was recognized for his performance by being named in the 2025 All-Australian squad. In September 2024, Keane signed a three-year contract extension with Adelaide, securing his commitment to the club until 2028, despite earlier rumors of a potential return to Collingwood.