For a VFL three-gamer just shy of two metres tall and coming off a patella tendon injury, Isaac Keeler certainly can move.

In the air over the weekend, that was unmissable. Every ball going inside-50 during Sandringham’s 21-point win over Port Melbourne felt as if there was a Keeler fingerprint left on them, be that through his aerial contest work or follow-up at ground level.

A two-on-one contest to bring the ball the ground, then follow up with a quick flick out to Marcus Windhager for his first of three majors was the textbook example which didn’t amount to much on the stats sheet, but was vital overall.

It’s a pretty handy skillset to have as a developing forward/ruck, but as St Kilda Development Coach and VFL Senior Coach Jake Batchelor is fast finding out, Keeler doesn’t quite fit the mold of your stock-standard, lumbering big unit.

“One thing that’s become really apparent, really quickly, is his desire to chase and harass,” St Kilda Development Coach and VFL Senior Coach Jake Batchelor told saints.com.au.

“You don’t expect that from a bloke he’s got the ‘two-metre tax’, but his game is actually not built on flair or kicking goals that you’d normally expect. 

“It’s clear that the brand he’s building at the moment is based on that chase and harass aspect and he got three set shots out of it.”

The deceptively agile Keeler had four long-range shots on goal for a three-behind return on Sunday afternoon, putting himself into those positions courtesy of his unanticipated style of play. 

Capping of his work with scoreboard reward would have been the perfect salute to an otherwise strong showing, but the work has been done during the pre-season to consolidate his routine and execute under pressure.

“He’s putting himself in good positions to compete ahead of the ball for us, and that’s what it’s all about at this stage,” Batchelor said.

“As a forward it’s pretty tough. Your job is to finish off the work and kick the goals, but the good thing about it was that he did his routine for all three set shots that he missed. He did everything leading up to it correctly, and the tide will turn.

“He’s only three games in. He’s building his tank and building his rigidity to back up week to week and it seems to be going pretty well.

As he begins to grow his forward game, the ruck element of his game continues to bubble away in the background.

Alongside Tom Campbell, Max Heath and Rowan Marshall, the ‘Ruck Club’ look to find different ways to do extras as a group, be it through small craft sessions, watching tapes or visualisation.

Keeler took relieving forward-50 stoppages over the weekend pitted against mid-season rookie hopeful Sam Naismith, who finished as one of the Borough’s best from Sunday.

“We’re happy for Isaac just to ruck forward 50 at the moment, just keep getting used to the forward craft for now,” Batchelor said.

“He’s got a good height and good reach to him, so he’s going to be pretty hard to match-up on in the future. 

“The more we can expose to him to some ruck work at the moment, the better he’ll be long-term.”