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James Kelly

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JennaJ

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Is James Kelly one of the most underrated players going around in the navy blue and white hoops
 
Thanks Jenna. I agree with you and I've been pumping him up on the forum for the last year. His skill level, intensity and fearlessness are back after a terrible 2006.

Whether it just took so long to realise that he is a good player, especially after the injury he had. I just love how he has changed his game significantly over the last 2 years. Can win the contested ball, plus has become a good lead up option.
 
Since about last years finals Kelly has begun to play much better. There's a fierceness about his game now and more determination, whereas before that he'd play well but still seemed to be cruising. We have so many top echelon midfielders that it's becoming embarassing.
 

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I took him our of my SC team and knew it was going to be a mistake. He has found his niche as a tough HFF that runs hard through the centre of the ground and can have spells on the ball. Uses it well and is strong through the body and man.

Happy to see him come of age.
 
He is not under-rated.

He was rated highly by us all until he broke his leg, and was never the same. Then 'lazy' performances started to creep in, even till half way through last year.

In my opinion, he is not under-rated at all. He is playing the way we expect him to.
 
biggalz23 said:
doesnt do enough when gets the pill and bit slow for my liking lucky his got mates :thumbsu:
Click to expand...


The Brisbane flag sides had blokes like Luke Power and that Jesus guy Shaun Hart.
In 2000, Essendon had a slowish,but skillfull midfielder in Chris Heffernan who did his job week after week and never really got the praise he deserved.

Kelly is your Heffernan. He's a top player imo. They can't all be superstars...
 
I think he had reason to be under-rated for a while, he wasn't stepping up, especially in 2006, but late last season he started to blossom and now I think he's going to make a few people take another look at his game. He seems to have a much harder attack on the ball now than he did.

He's gonna get noticed before long.
 
Kelly was a fast, silky smooth player before he broke his leg. After that, he has never truly regained the speed and the plantar fascitis has slowed him down even more and affected his kicking accuracy. I think in 2006 he tried to play the way he previously did but he couldn't because of his restrictions (slower speed and kicking accuracy) and thus had a poor year. I think Kelly finally realised in 2007 that he had to modifiy his game and he did that. He became a hard "in and under" player and excelled in close and is now a integral part of the midfield.
 
I dont think it is a massive change in his playing style per say but rather his position. He isnt really a midfielder, he is a HF that runs through the centre of the ground.
 

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I think Stokes is vastly underrated, but Kelly is about right. I'm not a huge fan of him, but he has been pulling his weight lately.
 
biggalz23 said:
doesnt do enough when gets the pill and bit slow for my liking lucky his got mates :thumbsu:
Click to expand...

Would suggest going and having a re-look at most of the games last year. Some have stated he wasn't up to scratch until mid last year, I'd like to beg to differ.

Kelly was great all last year, really picked up his game and added a new dimension of the lead up marking option. Has really sped up his handwork within packs, and actually has no fear in jumping into a pack, which we missed in 2006.

Kel was the major ball winner on Thurs night, so he has started where he left off. I hope he can continue this great form.
 
Kelly's form shows us our midfield depth more than anything. I mean if you stop bartel, ablett, selwood, corey and ling than you have kelly also. Possibly the best game I have seen him play ever on Thursday night.
 
In 2006 James Kelly injured his shoulder in the 2006 NAB Grandfinal.
He told me during the 2006 season that he still had some pain with it.
That could be the reason why he had such a sluggish year then.
 
kelly used to be one of my fave players, and showed plenty as a youngster. injury slowed him down, but he still was a prominent part of the team. i remember bomber listing him as 'absolutely not for trade' a couple of seasons back when other clubs were circling (sydney, i think?).

then he had a really ordinary 2006, and i thought he held back for a long time last year, but started to really get going by late in season. in the finals, he really shone. really hard under packs, started to bounce off the opposition in tackles, and really got the ball moving into attack.

was brilliant in the grand final (but then, so was the entire team!)

the only thing that still lets him down is kicking on goal, the main area he needs to get right to really star in the forward flank.

great game thursday too :thumbsu:
 

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Seems to have found his niche as a rotating half forward flanker/midfielder. The better part of last season revealed his suitablity up front, with his safe hands on a lead (particularly overhead, which has always been a strength of his), ability to lock-in contested balls, and win one-on-one duels. Set shot kicking has always been generally fine, for me. Essentially, a legitimate option to throw up forward and count on for some timely leads, the odd goal, and constant defensive pressure.

His 2008 to date (Thursday + the pre-season) seems to be a follow-on from his superb finals series of last year, which really highlighted his value to the team as an impact rotating midfielder. He's not our quickest, skillful, or best outside finishing option there, but he's invaluable with his high-intensity bursts in contests. His ability to throw the body in to win the contested ball, and either lock it in to cause an even stoppage situation, or fend off multiple tacklers and hand it off to a teammate is within the top-tier at the club.

He may not do it with the same pizzaz as Ablett or even Selwood, but his work in the contests is brutal all the same, and I love it.
 

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