Tim Kelly (footballer)

Tim Kelly (born 26 July 1994) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He formerly played for the Geelong Football Club between 2018 and 2019.

Tim Kelly
Kelly playing for Geelong in August 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-07-26) 26 July 1994
Original team(s) South Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft No. 24, 2017 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, Geelong
vs. Melbourne, at MCG
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 81 kg (179 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / forward
Club information
Current club West Coast
Number 11
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018–2019 Geelong 48 (48)
2020– West Coast 18 (5)
Total 66 (53)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life and WAFL career

Kelly is from Perth and played his junior football for Palmyra. He has an Indigenous Australian father and a Chilean mother.[1] He made his senior WAFL debut for the South Fremantle Football Club in 2013. He was runner-up in the club best and fairest in 2014.[2] During the 2017 WAFL season he finished runner-up in the Sandover Medal to Haiden Schloithe.[3] Before being drafted into the AFL, Kelly was an apprentice electrician. His partner/fiancée is Caitlin Miller and they have three sons.[4]

AFL career

Geelong (2018-2019)

Kelly was drafted by Geelong with their second selection and twenty-fourth overall in the 2017 national draft as an over age draftee[5] He made his debut in the three-point win against Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the opening round of the 2018 season.[6] At the 2018 AFL Players' Association Awards he was voted Best First Year Player by fellow players.[7] At the end of the 2018 season, Kelly requested a trade to the West Coast Eagles due to family reasons, but after long discussions, Geelong refused to trade him despite his plea.[8] After a stellar 2019 which included his first All-Australian selection, a preliminary final appearance and a top 5 finish in the Brownlow Medal, Kelly once again requested a trade to West Coast due to the same reason. He was finally traded on 9 October.

West Coast Eagles (2020-)

Kelly’s wish was finally granted after being traded the Eagles, who had traded Picks 14, 24, 37 and future first round pick to get Kelly. He signed a 6 year contract estimated worth $5 million dollars.

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2019 season[9]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
AFL playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2018 Geelong 1123241627724952677811.00.712.010.822.93.33.513
2019 Geelong 11252418381254635891061.00.715.210.225.43.64.224
Career 48 48 34 658 503 1161 166 187 1.0 0.7 13.7 10.5 24.2 3.5 3.9 37

References
  1. AFL draft: South Fremantle star Tim Kelly ripe for the picking
  2. Tim Kelly WAFL statistics
  3. New recruit Tim Kelly fits the Cats to a T
  4. Will it be a case of 'sixth time lucky' for South Fremantle star Tim Kelly at AFL draft?
  5. Reid, Russell (25 November 2017). "AFL draft 2017: Cats pounce on Tim Kelly, the Bulldog who lit up the WAFL". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  6. Cleary, Mitch (23 March 2018). "'Big Sav' one of three debutants for Cats". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  7. Balmer, Matt (30 August 2018). "AFL best first year player 2018: Tim Kelly takes out AFL Players' Association award AFL Matt Balmer". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  8. Writers, Staff (5 October 2018). "Geelong midfielder Tim Kelly requests trade to West Coast Eagles". Fox Sports Australia.
  9. "Tim Kelly". AFL Tables. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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