Paul Kelly (Australian rules footballer)

Last updated

Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (the footballer) (7176553482).jpg
Bronze statue of Paul Kelly at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-07-28) 28 July 1969 (age 52)
Place of birth West Wyalong, New South Wales
Original team(s) Wagga Tigers (RFL)
Height 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
19902002 Sydney 234 (200)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2002.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Paul Kelly (born 28 July 1969) is a former Australian rules footballer, winner of the Brownlow Medal and captain of the Sydney Swans for ten seasons. He was and still is known to Swans fans everywhere as "Captain Courageous".

Contents

Born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Kelly initially played rugby league for Wagga Brothers but turned to Australian rules football at age 15. [1] Recruited to the AFL by the Swans, Kelly made his debut in 1990 after being the best player in his school, and was appointed captain in 1993, won the Brownlow Medal (the AFL's highest individual honour) in 1995, won club best and fairests in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997, All-Australian selection in 1995, 1996 and 1997 (the last two as captain), and the AFL Players Association's Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000.

Kelly led the Swans to the AFL Grand Final in 1996—its first since 1945—and was considered one of the best players in the competition during the mid-1990s, but from 1998 onwards was severely hampered by injuries. Kelly retired after 234 AFL games and served as the Swans runner in 2003 before retiring to his farm near Wagga Wagga. His autobiography, Swan Song, was published in 2003 and covers the period until his retirement from football. His No. 14 jumper has since been retired for 5 years, before it was brought out again, this time to be worn by Craig Bird.

In 2005, Kelly was on hand to present the premiership cup to Paul Roos and Barry Hall after the Swans' nailbiting 4-point Grand Final win.

In 2006, he presented the Brownlow Medal to former team mate, Adam Goodes.

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in July, 2007. [2]

Statue of Paul Kelly at the Sydney Cricket Ground Paul Kelly (the footballer) (7176553482).jpg
Statue of Paul Kelly at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Statistics

[3]
Legend
 G  Goals  K  Kicks  D  Disposals  T  Tackles
 B  Behinds  H  Handballs  M  Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game)
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
1990 Sydney 4510244843911580.20.44.84.39.11.50.8
1991 Sydney 1420142021917339252510.71.011.08.719.62.62.6
1992 Sydney 142281631021652663730.40.714.19.823.92.93.3
1993 Sydney 142011626915342255670.60.313.57.721.12.83.4
1994 Sydney 1418151222620643270420.80.712.611.424.03.92.3
1995 Sydney 1422151128515343868770.70.513.07.019.93.13.5
1996 Sydney 14251813371205576128700.70.514.88.223.05.12.8
1997 Sydney 14232630376178554100401.11.316.37.724.14.31.7
1998 Sydney 1416271122910833764281.70.714.36.821.14.01.8
1999 Sydney 1421282526713740486291.31.212.76.519.24.11.4
2000 Sydney 148102673810531161.30.38.44.813.13.92.0
2001 Sydney 141113111174816552281.21.010.64.415.04.72.5
2002 Sydney 1418131320013533561650.70.711.17.518.63.43.6
Career2342001742984179347778455940.90.712.87.720.43.62.5

Honours and achievements

Brownlow Medal votes
SeasonVotes
1990
1991
1992 4
1993 11
1994 11
1995 21
1996 14
1997 21
1998 1
1999 7
2000
2001 3
2002 10
Total103
Key:
Green / Bold = Won

Related Research Articles

Mark Ricciuto Australian rules footballer

Mark Anthony Ricciuto is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). From Ramco, South Australia, Ricciuto started as a junior with the local Waikerie Magpies Football Club. He joined the West Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), making his debut at the age of 16, before being recruited by Adelaide as a zone selection prior to the 1993 season.

Barry Round played for Footscray and South Melbourne/Sydney in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1969 and 1985. Along the way, he played 328 games, won a Brownlow Medal in 1981 and was the Swans' first captain during the Sydney era. Round's height and weight was 193 cm and 108 kg.

Simon Black Australian rules footballer, born 1979

Simon Black is a former Australian rules football player and current assistant coach, who played his whole career with the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Gregory Donald Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who represented Geelong, the Sydney Swans and Carlton in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. A midfielder, he is a dual Brownlow Medal winner and at his peak was the then highest-paid player in the history of the sport. He was also a very controversial player throughout his career, and was involved in a variety of scandals throughout the 1990s.

Jonathan Brown (Australian footballer) Australian rules footballer, born 1981

Jonathan Brown is a former Australian rules footballer and radio presenter living in Melbourne. He is the former captain of the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League

Chris Judd Australian rules footballer, born 1983

Christopher Dylan Judd is a former professional Australian rules footballer and captain of both the West Coast Eagles and Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Paul Roos is a former Australian rules football coach who coached the Sydney Swans and Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). As a player, he represented Fitzroy and Sydney during the 1980s and 1990s.

Brett Kirk Australian rules footballer

Brett Kirk is a former Australian rules football player of the Sydney Swans and was the AFL's International Ambassador. Kirk is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Sydney Swans.

Jimmy Bartel Australian rules footballer, born 1983

James Ross Bartel is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A utility, 1.87 m tall and weighing 89 kilograms (196 lb), Bartel was able to contribute as a midfielder, forward, or defender.

Gerard Healy Australian rules footballer, born 1961

Gerard Healy is a former Australian rules footballer and commentator. Healy attended St Bede's College in Mentone, where he was the senior football captain. Gerard is a trained physiotherapist.

Anthony Koutoufides is a retired Australian rules footballer with the Carlton Football Club. Considered by many as one of the most powerful and athletic players of all-time, he played in almost every position and was often called the prototype of the modern footballer.

The Bob Skilton Medal is an annual Australian rules football award presented to the player(s) adjudged the best and fairest at the Sydney Swans throughout the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL) season. It is named after Bob Skilton, who won the award a record nine times from 1958 to 1968. The voting system as of the 2017 AFL season, consists of five coaches giving an undetermined number of players up to ten votes each after every match. Players can receive a maximum of 50 votes for a game.

Josh Kennedy (footballer, born 1988) Australian rules footballer

Joshua P. Kennedy is an Australian rules footballer playing for and captaining the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Hawthorn Football Club.

Ron Clegg Australian rules footballer and coach (1927-1990)

Ron "Smokey" Clegg was an Australian rules footballer in the (then) Victorian Football League.

The AFL Players Association (AFLPA) awards are a group of awards given annually to players in the Australian Football League, voted for by all AFL players.

Wayne Campbell Australian rules footballer

Wayne Campbell is a retired Australian rules football player and administrator for the Richmond Football Club in the AFL. He also had assistant coaching roles at the Western Bulldogs for two years.

Rory Sloane Australian rules footballer

Rory Sloane is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Sloane is a dual Malcolm Blight Medallist and was selected in the All-Australian team in 2016. He also won a Showdown Medal in 2017. Sloane served as Adelaide co-captain in 2019, and has served as the sole captain since the 2020 season. Rory’s 2021 season has been hampered by a lingering syndesmosis injury which has led to a dramatic drop in form.

Luke Parker (footballer) Australian rules footballer

Luke Parker is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He plays as a midfielder.

The 1995 Brownlow Medal was the 68th year the award was presented to the player adjudged the fairest and best player during the Australian Football League (AFL) home-and-away season. Paul Kelly of the Sydney Swans won the medal by polling twenty-one votes during the 1995 AFL season. For the first time, the State Government legalised betting on the Brownlow Medal, a move which concerned some due to the high potential for corruption. The pre-count favourites for the medal were Wayne Carey (3/1), Wayne Campbell (7/2), Peter Matera (10/1), James Hird and Craig Bradley. Eventual winner Paul Kelly was considered a 25/1 outside chance.

Callum Mills Australian rules footballer

Callum Mills is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He won the 2016 NAB AFL Rising Star Award for his outstanding breakout season.

References

  1. "Kelly, Paul". Sporting Hall of Fame. Museum of the Riverina. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  2. Paul Kelly in Hall of Fame from the Daily Telegraph
  3. Paul Kelly's player profile at AFL Tables