Few stories in AFL are as satisfying as a player who gets a second chance and makes the most of it. Ben Keays, a hard‑working forward/midfielder for the Adelaide Crows, has turned a Brisbane Lions delisting into a vice‑captaincy and a best and fairest award.
Full name: Ben Keays ·
Date of birth: 23 February 1997 ·
Height: 185 cm ·
AFL debut: 2016 ·
Current club: Adelaide Crows ·
Total AFL games: 173
Quick snapshot
- Born 23 Feb 1997 (Wikipedia (player profile))
- Plays for Adelaide Crows (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Won Adelaide best and fairest in 2024 (tied) (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Has played 173 AFL games as of 2025 (Wikipedia (player statistics))
- Exact salary not publicly confirmed (Adelaide FC (official profile) – no disclosure)
- Marital status not officially confirmed (no public source) (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Full severity of 2025 quad injury (Instagram (social media reel), low confidence)
- Drafted 2015 by Brisbane Lions (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- AFL debut 2016 (Wikipedia (AFL career))
- Moved to Adelaide Crows 2020 (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Won best and fairest 2024 (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Returning from pre‑season hamstring scare (10 News Adelaide (Facebook video))
- Continues as Adelaide vice‑captain (AFL (feature article))
Eight key facts, one snapshot: Ben Keays’ career numbers combine durability with impact.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ben Keays |
| Date of birth | 23 February 1997 (Wikipedia (player profile)) |
| Height | 185 cm (Wikipedia (player statistics)) |
| AFL debut | 2016 (Wikipedia (AFL career)) |
| Current club | Adelaide Crows (Adelaide FC (official profile)) |
| Total AFL games | 173 (Wikipedia (player statistics)) |
| Total AFL goals | 141 (11 Brisbane + 130 Adelaide) (Wikipedia (player statistics)) |
| Best and fairest | 2024 (equal) (Adelaide FC (official profile)) |
Who is Ben Keays?
Early life and junior career
- Born 23 Feb 1997 in Queensland (Wikipedia (player profile))
- Played junior football for Aspley and represented Queensland at under‑18 level (Wikipedia (player profile))
The implication: Keays came through the Queensland development pathway, which has produced fewer AFL‑standard players than the traditional football states, making his rise to 173 AFL games noteworthy.
AFL draft and Brisbane Lions years
- Drafted with pick 24 in the 2015 national draft by Brisbane Lions (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Played 30 senior games and kicked 11 goals for Brisbane (2016–2019) (Wikipedia (AFL career))
- Delisted at the end of the 2019 season (Adelaide FC (official profile))
The pattern: three seasons, a finger injury that slowed his first year (AFL (feature article)), and eventual delisting — a common story for late‑round draft picks.
Move to Adelaide Crows
- Picked up by Adelaide in the 2019 rookie draft (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Has played 142 games for Adelaide and kicked 130 goals (as of end 2024) (Wikipedia (player statistics))
- Appointed vice‑captain and won the club’s best and fairest in 2024 (equal) (Adelaide FC (official profile); AFL (feature article))
What this means: Keays is the poster‑child for the “second‑chance” story — from delisted Lion to club leader in just four seasons.
What is Ben Keays’ salary?
No official figure has been published by the Adelaide Crows or the AFL Players Association for Ben Keays’ current contract. The public sources that track player pay — club profile pages and league disclosures — do not list his earnings (Adelaide FC (official profile); AFL (feature article)).
Reported contract details
- No salary figure is publicly confirmed; the AFC profile and AFL coverage omit any pay details (Adelaide FC (official profile); AFL (feature article))
- Industry estimates for a vice‑captain with 173 games typically range in the middle‑tier bracket, but no official document supports a specific number
Comparison to average AFL salary
- The average AFL wage in 2024 was about $400,000–$450,000, but Keays’ actual contract remains undisclosed
- Because the club has not publicised his deal, any comparison is speculative
The implication: fans will have to wait for the AFLPA’s annual pay report — if it includes Keays — to get a verified figure.
Is Ben Keays injured?
Recent injury history
- In January 2025, Keays suffered a hamstring strain during Crows pre‑season training, reported by 10 News Adelaide (10 News Adelaide (Facebook video))
- According to a CODE AFL social post, the injury was described as “minor” (CODE AFL (Facebook post))
- An Instagram reel also reported a quad issue during a Showdown loss to Port Adelaide, but the severity is unclear (Instagram (social media reel))
Return timeline
- Despite the pre‑season hamstring scare, Keays started round 1 of the 2025 season, consistent with his reputation for durability
- AFL coverage notes that Keays had not missed a game for Adelaide and held a club‑record 119‑game consecutive‑game streak at the time of a 2024 article (AFL (feature article))
Social‑media reports of minor setbacks contrast with official AFL coverage that repeatedly highlights Keays’ remarkable durability. The truth is likely somewhere in between: short‑term knocks that rarely cost him a game.
The pattern: Keays is a player who absorbs the knocks but rarely misses a match.
How many goals has Ben Keays kicked?
Career goal tally
- According to Wikipedia, Keays has kicked 141 goals across his AFL career: 11 for Brisbane and 130 for Adelaide (Wikipedia (player statistics))
- His 173 games give him a goal‑per‑game average of 0.81
Best season for goals
- While the research notes do not specify a single peak season, his consistent goal‑kicking as a forward/midfielder (averaging 0.81 goals per game) marks him as a reliable scorer
- His ability to hit the scoreboard while winning inside‑50 contests makes him valuable to Adelaide’s forward structure (Adelaide FC (official profile))
The takeaway: Keays is not a Coleman‑medal threat, but his output as a midfield‑rotating forward is solid by modern standards.
What is Ben Keays known for?
Playing style
- Adelaide FC describes him as a “hard‑working forward/midfielder” who can win the ball on the inside and impact the scoreboard (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- AFL coverage emphasises his resilience: “the type of second‑chance player who moved from Brisbane rejection to Adelaide leadership” (AFL (feature article))
Awards and recognition
- Won the Adelaide Crows best and fairest award in 2024, sharing the honour (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Appointed vice‑captain of the club (AFL (feature article))
- Holds Adelaide’s longest consecutive‑games streak (119 games) as of 2024 (AFL (feature article))
Why this matters: Keays has become a symbol of perseverance in the AFL system, proving that a fresh club and a consistent work ethic can rewrite a career story.
Timeline
- 23 February 1997 – Born in Queensland (Wikipedia (player profile))
- 2015 – Drafted by Brisbane Lions with pick 24 (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- 2016 – AFL debut for Brisbane Lions (Wikipedia (AFL career))
- 2019 – Delisted by Brisbane; picked up by Adelaide in rookie draft (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- 2024 – Wins Adelaide best and fairest award (equal) (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- 2025 pre‑season – Minor hamstring strain; returns for round 1 (10 News Adelaide (Facebook video))
The pattern: Keays’ career has been defined by resilience and consistent performance despite early setbacks.
Known and unknown
Confirmed facts
- Born 23 Feb 1997 (Wikipedia (player profile))
- Plays for Adelaide Crows (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Won best and fairest 2024 (Adelaide FC (official profile))
- Vice‑captain of Adelaide (AFL (feature article))
- Held club consecutive‑games record (119) (AFL (feature article))
What’s unclear
- Height 185 cm (Wikipedia (player statistics))
- Has played 173 AFL games (Wikipedia (player statistics))
- Kicked 141 career goals (Wikipedia (player statistics))
- Exact salary (no public disclosure)
- Marital status (not officially confirmed)
- Full severity of 2025 quad injury (Instagram (social media reel), low confidence)
What this means: While many basic facts are confirmed, key details like salary remain private, a common situation for mid‑tier AFL players.
Quotes
Keays is a hard‑working forward/midfielder who can win the ball on the inside and impact the scoreboard.
Adelaide Football Club (player profile, 2025) (Adelaide FC (official profile))
Keays is the type of second‑chance player who moved from Brisbane rejection to Adelaide leadership.
AFL (feature on Keays’ 150th game, 2024) (AFL (feature article))
For Adelaide fans, the message is clear: Keays is the kind of player you build around, not just plug into a gap. His durability, leadership, and ability to produce week after week make him a cornerstone of the Crows’ midfield‑forward rotation. The only missing piece is a public pay disclosure — and that’s a footnote to a career that has already defied the odds.
While Ben Keays continues to impress at Adelaide, Ben Kings career profile provides a comprehensive look at another talented forward in the league.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ben Keays’ early life and career overview?
Ben Keays is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Crows in the AFL. He was born on 23 February 1997, drafted by Brisbane Lions in 2015, and moved to Adelaide in 2020.
What position does Ben Keays play?
He plays as a forward/midfielder, known for his inside‑ball winning and scoreboard impact.
How old is Ben Keays?
He was born on 23 February 1997, making him 28 years old as of 2025.
How much does Ben Keays earn per year?
His exact salary is not publicly confirmed by the Adelaide Crows or the AFL Players Association.
What injuries has Ben Keays had recently?
He suffered a minor hamstring strain in pre‑season 2025 but returned for round 1. He also had a quad injury reported on social media, though its severity is unclear.
What is Ben Keays’ career goal tally?
He has kicked 141 career goals (11 for Brisbane, 130 for Adelaide) across 173 games.
What makes Ben Keays a notable AFL player?
He is known for his resilience after being delisted by Brisbane, becoming Adelaide’s vice‑captain, winning the 2024 best and fairest, and holding a 119‑game consecutive‑games streak.
Does Ben Keays have a brother?
Public sources do not mention a brother; his family details are not widely published.
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Liam O'Brien covers Australian politics and public affairs for Australian News Desk.