AFL Player #29: Jake "Bull" Kelly šŸ‚ - 150th game this week - 21/3

  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #2
29 - kelly.jpg

Contract Status: Out of contract 2024
My Boy Draft 2023: Claim here
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Website.jpg


Bombers land Kelly
Hard-running defender Jake Kelly joins Essendon as an unrestricted free agent.

Essendon has secured the services of Jake Kelly from Adelaide, with the hard-running defender joining the club as an unrestricted free agent.

With the 2021 free agency period officially commencing on Friday morning, the Bombers moved quickly to sign the 26-year-old, who arrives at the NEC Hangar on a three-year deal after eight years and 110 games at the Crows.

A 2014 rookie draft selection, Kelly established a starting role in the senior side in his first season before helping Adelaide to a Grand Final appearance in 2017.

He played 20 games this season to finish seventh in the Crowsā€™ best-and-fairest count, impressing with his endurance, intercept ability and effective ball use.

According to Champion Data, Kelly was involved in more one-on-one defensive contests (65) than any other general defender, losing just 16.9 per cent of them.

Kelly will reunite with senior coach Ben Rutten, with the pair on Adelaideā€™s playing list in 2014.

Son of Collingwood premiership player Craig and older brother of current Magpie Will, Kelly will return to his hometown of Melbourne in October before joining the Bombers for the start of pre-season in November.

General manager of list and recruiting Adrian Dodoro said the Bombers were delighted to nab Kelly's signature.

ā€œWeā€™re excited to welcome Jake Kelly to the Essendon Football Club,ā€ Dodoro said.

ā€œWe know Jake brings important experience and will work really well alongside the likes of Jordan Ridley, Nick Hind, Jayden Laverde, Mason Redman and Dyson Heppell in our new-look backline. He is a seamless fit with his ability to play on dangerous small to medium forwards, so weā€™re really pleased Jake has chosen to come to Essendon.

ā€œIn our discussions with Jake, he is very excited and motivated by the direction the club is headed, and we look forward to seeing what he can contribute to our emerging playing group in years to come.ā€
 
Last edited:
Jake Kelly only lost 11 of the 65 (16.9%) one-on-one contests he defended this season - ranked 6th of the top-50 in the AFL. A nice addition for Essendon. #AFLTrade
 
Jul 6, 2017
28,331
37,668
AFL Club
Adelaide
Jake Kelly only lost 11 of the 65 (16.9%) one-on-one contests he defended this season - ranked 6th of the top-50 in the AFL. A nice addition for Essendon. #AFLTrade
Sorry for the intrusion but just wanted to add that he is very good defensively but was always slow to release offensively. If you guys are able to accommodate him purely as a lockdown and don't need him to be a rebounding type defender he will be great for you - he does win most 1v1 contests - just get him to hand the ball off to others who can attack
 
Jun 11, 2007
34,086
29,320
Victoria
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Bayern, Milan, Boston Celtics
Sorry for the intrusion but just wanted to add that he is very good defensively but was always slow to release offensively. If you guys are able to accommodate him purely as a lockdown and don't need him to be a rebounding type defender he will be great for you - he does win most 1v1 contests - just get him to hand the ball off to others who can attack
this bodes well. most our backline are good rebounders
francis, ridley, hind, redman - all very good with ball in hand.
Reid is apparently very good too.

Pretty happy with this one admittedly.
In 12m we've rebuilt the backline after losing Hooker, Hurley, Ambrose, McKenna and Saad in one hit.
 
Good get. Welcome Jake.

Darcy Moore to complete the Hattrick next year? :p
 
Back