Toast James Kelly

[SJ]

Career high numbers for Kelly yesterday. I felt he stepped up last year as a real grunt player in the midfield as Corey was absent for most of the season and he's continued this year with Ablett gone. Huge strength in close and the best tackler in the team.

38 touches (10 contested), seven inside 50s, eight tackles and five clearances yesterday.

After three rounds he's had 24 tackles. Our next highest is Bartel on 11.

 

[kellykellykelly]

Career high numbers for Kelly yesterday. I felt he stepped up last year as a real grunt player in the midfield as Corey was absent for most of the season and he's continued this year with Ablett gone. Huge strength in close and the best tackler in the team.

38 touches (10 contested), seven inside 50s, eight tackles and five clearances yesterday.

After three rounds he's had 24 tackles. Our next highest is Bartel on 11.

Kelly's tackle on Goddard in the '09 Grand Final summarizes his tackling vividly. He tackles to hurt, which is invaluable. Something we need Hawkins to add to his arsenal.

Is most damaging when the going gets tough - one of our most underrated.

 

[TMS]

Love Kelly's effort, as SJ said he really stepped up last year and has continued that form into this season. Could easily have been AA last year, but for some reason doesn't get the accolades he deserves.

Kelly's tackle on Goddard in the '09 Grand Final summarizes his tackling vividly. He tackles to hurt, which is invaluable. Something we need Hawkins to add to his arsenal.

Remember Kelly's tackle in round 1, 2010? Brent Prismall does.

Or actually, maybe he doesn't...

 

[Cats Eye]

Career high numbers for Kelly yesterday. I felt he stepped up last year as a real grunt player in the midfield as Corey was absent for most of the season and he's continued this year with Ablett gone. Huge strength in close and the best tackler in the team.

38 touches (10 contested), seven inside 50s, eight tackles and five clearances yesterday.

After three rounds he's had 24 tackles. Our next highest is Bartel on 11.

24 tackles in 3 rounds is nothing to boast about..... Jude Bolton only had 5 less then that in one game on the weekend.

On a serious note, he is very underated, well done to Kelly for keeping up his great form. Runs out onto the ground every week and gets his job done.

 

[you pick one]

Kelly's tackle on Goddard in the '09 Grand Final summarizes his tackling vividly. He tackles to hurt, which is invaluable. Something we need Hawkins to add to his arsenal.

Is most damaging when the going gets tough - one of our most underrated.

Not by me, as I've posted before a tackling machine, can do a job in defense, but in MHO to often wasted back there.Up on the ball's his spot,especially now Ablett's gone.
Agree with you on Hawkins to the only damage I can recall him doing was crunching Varcoe

 

[Belisarius]

In most AFL teams would have been playing in the midfield years ago. Had to learn to play other positions because of the depth of our midfield.

Ablett leaving opened up a midfield position for him. Deserves all the accolades he gets - excellent footballer.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

About to step into the elite category IMO.

 

[Duskfire]

About to step into the elite category IMO.

I wouldnt go that far, but to me elite is basically the best of the best. Very very good player though, and vital for Geelong. He is alot like Rooke really, in the sense that only us Cats supporters really appreciate hi (theres players like that in every team.)

 

[TheHonestyPolicy]

I think he is relishing his time in the middle and I feel he is finally getting the minutes in there he has been crying out for. I dont reckon we have seen the best of Kel yet. I reckon Sunday was a glimpse of what is still to come from a guy who has spent years playing second fiddle to champions.
I am not saying he is just reaching his peak now, I am suggesting his ability to play minutes in the middle as a prime mid will improve his game.
With Ablett going, Corey a bit older, I think its his time to shine and if Sunday is anything to go by he might be a dark horse for the Brownlow

 

[Vdubs]

Has caught and surpassed Corey Enright as our most underrated. Love his skills, tackling, ability to evade tackles, and his ability to keep his feet. Disposals are great this year too, so far.

 

[Copernicus]

I think he's one of those players that are generally only really appreciate by a team's supporters and people who are really into footy in general. Plenty of folks who follow other teams would probably not notice him that much, and he doesn't have the flair to grab the media's attention. A little Boris, although I have noticed that he has been getting a bit more of a focus from commentators and other team's supporters recently.

Been very consistent the last year and a bit and his hardness at the contest is invaluable.

 

[Vdubs]

Interesting that when Kelly, Bartel, Ablett and SJ all started, Kelly was easily the most impressive. Classy, skilled, a little Hird-like. He has been quite seemingly happy to be in the background to those, but imo, he's their equal.

We are blessed to have at least 3 of the all time most underrated players currently playing--Kelly, Wojo, MILBURN.

 

[bulletproof]

A selfless team man who has sacrificed the most in terms of money and individual glory for greater good. And done it all with a smile. Along with Ling the heartbeat of the side.

 

[vinum coupe]

I wouldnt go that far, but to me elite is basically the best of the best. Very very good player though, and vital for Geelong. He is alot like Rooke really, in the sense that only us Cats supporters really appreciate hi (theres players like that in every team.)

I reckon he's a huge chance of winning the carji this year.
That's elite enough for mine.

There's something about him right now. Maybe he has been freed up to hunt?

If they gave odds on the cats to make the GF, into the cats to win it, into Kelly to win norm I reckon I'd have a go. The odds would be 300-1 or so.

Foolish thoughts I know, but I reckon he looks like the type of player that would win norm in his current state.

 

[Topper Harley]

I reckon he's a huge chance of winning the carji this year.
That's elite enough for mine.

There's something about him right now. Maybe he has been freed up to hunt?

If they gave odds on the cats to make the GF, into the cats to win it, into Kelly to win norm I reckon I'd have a go. The odds would be 300-1 or so.

Foolish thoughts I know, but I reckon he looks like the type of player that would win norm in his current state.

He was in our top 5 players in the 09 GF IMO.

So I agree, he's a big game player.

 

[dazbroncos]

im not in the country till May but Id slap a loose lobster on him for the Brownlow....

total roughie of course but the votes have to go somewhere -Jimmeh and Sel will cop most of the tags.... just saying not without a chance.....

And he is silky good and his defensive side of play and tackling close to team best..... and extremely underrated as mentioned....


Go Catters....

 

[Linx]

It's a real shame he broke his leg back in 2004. Remember, he was considered the best of our young mid fielders back in the earlier 00's. Since the broken leg, he has never fully regained the explosiveness in pace and kicking distance.

Don't get me wrong, he is still a fantastic player. Tough, commited and hard as nails. But if he didn't break his leg, he would have the extra speed and silk to go along with his other great attributes and would IMO be our 2nd best midfielder throughout our dominant period behind "the one who shall not be names"

 

[tomthabuddah]

Am absolutely loving the evolution of Kel.

Kel seems to have benefited the most from Gaz leaving.

How good is he around the ball, he almost has that Rooke love of just battering his body and the opposition. Is a seriously strong and tough unit.

Also loved his celebration on the weekend!!! Kel for B&F.

 

[Selective Retention]

Both he and Corey (and Duncan too) have benefited from Ablett leaving as they are playing more game time in their natural position in the midfield rather than being utilities moved around to plug holes. We just need all these guys to keep it up for the whole year.

 

[Vdubs]

Both he and Corey (and Duncan too) have benefited from Ablett leaving as they are playing more game time in their natural position in the midfield rather than being utilities moved around to plug holes. We just need all these guys to keep it up for the whole year.

Don't quite agree. Nice way to look at it, but Kelly was magnificent last year as a mid and in defence. Corey was poor last year only because of his knee injury. He is getting back somewhere near his true form, but still a little way to go, only a little. Duncan will naturally evolve and he and Menzel will continue to improve.

The only beneficiaries of Ablett leaving are Gold Coast. If our players used to leave it for Gary, or looked for him too much, that's what happens when you have the ultimate finisher in the team.

The WHOLE TEAM appears to have lifted so far and this has to be related to the enthusiasm a new coach brings. Pretty sure if that whole team was interviewed, they'd unanimously still prefer to have Gazza around. He isn't and our team has done exceptionally well so far, but there are 17- 21 games to go.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Am absolutely loving the evolution of Kel.

Kel seems to have benefited the most from Gaz leaving.

How good is he around the ball, he almost has that Rooke love of just battering his body and the opposition. Is a seriously strong and tough unit.

Also loved his celebration on the weekend!!! Kel for B&F.

Agree 100%. He is deceptively hard all round and particularly at the man - maybe it's the baby face but I reckon he is underestimated in this area. Sublimely skilful and seems like a great bloke to have around in the prankster stakes. Along with Scarlett , Corey, Bartel, Ling , SJ ,Chapman and Enright a truly vital organ in our DNA.

 

[SJ]

League leader for tackles now.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Has been our best tackler for years. Awesome to see him racking them up this year but its not just about the numbers he is also our best at locking it in and making it hurt.

 

[Knife Wrench]

Has been our best tackler for years. Awesome to see him racking them up this year but its not just about the numbers he is also our best at locking it in and making it hurt.

I think you forget a bloke called Max Rooke..

..Although its not really fair to compare a man to a bear.

 

[The Casey Cat]

I think you forget a bloke called Max Rooke..

..Although its not really fair to compare a man to a bear.

Rookie was my absolute fav player but manbeast or not I could not say he was better at tackling than Kelly and perhaps Bartel. Not much in it though.