O’Keefe, 30, rejoined the division one roster after a year off and has proved an invaluable defensive asset in the Seahawks’ surge towards the play-offs.

He’s used Katie as a sounding board, calling on her vast playing and coaching experience to help fine-tune his game.

O’Keefe made his Seahawks’ debut in 2012 but stepped back last season to help look after their two children — Hannah, 5, and Abbey, 3 — while Katie coached the Mermaids’ Big V outfit. 

“She is very keen to get back playing again but she gives me instructions after the games — things where I went wrong and what I should have done,” O’Keefe said.

“At the beginning of the season she helped me a lot with my game, with shooting and things like that, so she was a big help.

“She has a lot more experience than I have.”

O’Keefe had a back complaint which hindered him earlier in the season but is feeling fit — “being married to a chiropractor has its benefits” — ahead of Saturday night’s cut-throat quarter-final against Chelsea Gulls.

“We beat them earlier in the season. I was injured that game actually so I don’t really know what to expect this game but from all accounts we’ve got the calibre to be able to get over the top of them and hopefully get a decent win,” he said.

“It’s definitely not going to be easy. 

“Everybody needs to step up and play their game and try not to be intimidated and do everything Bobby tells us to do and hopefully we can execute on the day.”

O’Keefe is a radiologist at St John of God Hospital and uses basketball as “a bit of an outlet”.

At 30, he and former coach Tim Gainey are veterans of a youthful Seahawks’ outfit stacked with teenagers.

“It’s been really good actually. They’ve brought a lot of enthusiasm to the team and a lot of intensity to each game,” O’Keefe said.

“They are pushing us older fellas to play a bit harder.”

O’Keefe played football growing up, representing TAC Cup side Murray Bushrangers.

Basketball has always been a sport he’s enjoyed, too.

“(I was) playing division one men’s basketball and thought I’d try something a bit more higher up and gave it a go a couple of years ago when Tim (Gainey) gave me a shot,” he said. 

“I always grew up playing basketball so it was in back of my mind.”

Warrnambool has prided itself on its defence this season and O’Keefe has epitomised that commitment.

He has averaged a team-high 2.9 defensive rebounds a game from 16 matches and 6.1 offensive boards — second only to Gainey’s 7.2 — this season.

“I am not very good offensively but I think (I’ve been) able to bring that strength underneath the ring and a bit more body experience that some of the younger guys probably aren’t accustomed to,” he said. 

“I am definitely more experienced in that regard but still have a lot to learn offensively but one day I’ll get there.”

The Seahawks host Chelsea Gulls in a knockout quarter-final at the Arc on Saturday night.

Tip off is 7pm.