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An athletic tall defender who has the ability to play one-on-one and negate his direct opponent. Grew in confidence playing for Vic Metro this year, reading the angles well with his intercept marking. As the son of Collingwood premiership player Craig Kelly, he is eligible for the Magpies as a father-son selection.
2018 TAC Cup statistics Club: Oakleigh U18 Games: 9 Average Disposals: 13.4 Average Marks: 4.6 Average Round 50s: 2.2 Average Tackles: 1.5
Did you know?
- The defender has modelled his game on Collingwood star Jeremy Howe, who he spent time training alongside during the 2017/2018 pre-season.
- Kellys brother, Jake, plays for Adelaide. He played a handful of games for the Magpies VFL team as a top-up player in 2013.
- Playing for Scotch College, he played most of his school football in attack, but is primarily a backman.
- He played the final four games of the TAC Cup season, including Oakleighs Grand Final loss to Dandenong, with a stress fracture in his ankle.
What they say
A tall athletic defender who has the ability to play one-on- one and defend his direct opponent. Grew in confidence playing for Vic Metro in the National Under-18 Championships, reading the angles well with his intercept marking. Had an excellent year for the Chargers averaging 13.4 disposals and 4.6 marks across nine matches. Son of Collingwood premiership player Craig Kelly and an eligible father-son selection for the Magpies,Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador), AFL.com.au, November 2018
As his confidence grows and grows, how I picture him is a more co-ordinated Matt Scarlett thats how important he could be to a team,Leigh Clarke (Oakleigh U18 coach), Leader Newspapers, July 2018
Demonstrating a playing style not dissimilar to a young Will Schofield, Kelly also possesses speed and enjoys taking on the game with his run. His closing speed allows him to stick close to opposition forwards and in one-on-one contests he is competitive and rarely beaten,Chris Doerre (ESPN draft expert), ESPN.com.au, July 2018
What he says
When you see the (Collingwood) supporter base at games you realise what it means to people and it would be amazing to be in that environment,Will Kelly, afl.com.au, October 2018.
(Having a father who played and worked in the AFL industry) has taught me a lot about the personality you need to walk into an AFL club. The work ethic and organisation, but also the open-mindedness and being open to all the different types of boys that come in,Will Kelly, told to Fox Sports Ben Waterworth, November 2018.
3rd degree wrote:Wrapped to get young Will and so stoked for Ned " The Cement Truck". He must be so happy. I really enjoyed Craig talking on the final story for 1990.
I understand he tested well in pinching the skin of the opposition in the draft combine. A "pinchy-pinchy" standout out on both sides of his body.
“I even went as far as becoming a Southern Baptist until I realised they didn’t keep ‘em under long enough” Kinky Friedman
Couldn't help but think in the warm up the other night when I saw Kelly had inherited the number 20 guernsey that it was some ominous joke of things to come. Then wouldn't you know it..... snapped collarbone. So let's look at it:
* 2018 TAC Season: 2/3 wiped out due to injury
* 2019: first season at Pies wiped out due to injury
* 2020: 1 game then broken shoulder
* 2021: 1 pre-season game and broken collarbone
Some guys just simply cannot take a trick aka:
* Sean Rusling
* Tom Davidson
* Danny Roach
* Mark Orval
* Chris Dalkin
* Ben Sinclair
* Tom Langdon etc....
It is an unfortunate start to his career but you would rather a couple limb breaks above the waist than broken legs or constant soft tissue issues.
Nothing so far has impacted his pace or an inability to get those miles into his legs. Still disappointing of course.
As a footnote, there were plenty at the Chargers who thought he should have had ankle surgery immediately after that injury.
He chose to play on because it was his draft year and the Chargers were premiership favourites. He didn’t have surgery until well into October and it probably cost him a decent pre season in his first year at the club.
Cant blame the kid for wanting to play footy but it’s not often you get rewarded for bad decisions or bad judgement.
Gary Player “ the harder I practice, the luckier I get “
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