Will Kelly ready to follow father and brother’s footsteps into AFL

He’s the son of Collingwood 1990 premiership player Craig Kelly and the brother of Crow Jake Kelly. Now father-son hopeful Will Kelly wants to make his own name in the AFL.

Will Kelly in action for Oakleigh in the TAC Cup preliminary final. Picture: Hamish Blair

HE credits his father - 1990 Collingwood premiership player Craig Kelly - with having had the biggest influence on his football career but Will Kelly does not want to be compared to his dad as a player.

The 18-year-old has watched a few video clips of his old man’s 122-game career over the years but hasn’t always liked what he has seen.

“I’ve seen a few of his pinching and hitting behind play,” Kelly said with a smile.

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He was a bit different to how I play.”

There are some similarities, though.

Like his father, Will is a defender and could too pull on the black and white stripes, being a potential father-son selection for Collingwood at next month’s AFL national draft.

Will Kelly is a Collingwood father-son prospect at this year’s AFL national draft. Picture: Hamish Blair

Tall and athletic with strong overhead marking ability, Kelly’s game has improved out of sight this year, training with the Magpies for a week during pre-season the catalyst.

“That was such a good experience. It was such a step up, a real eye-opener,” Kelly said.

“The intensity and the training level, it’s just a massive step up. It was good because it gave me the insight to go back to Oakleigh (Chargers) and improve my game and make sure my training standards were up to that level.”

Kelly has tried to model his game around that of one of the players he trained with, defender Jeremy Howe, but concedes he doesn’t have the same leap of the high-flying Magpie.

“I don’t think I’m at that level,” he said.

Kelly has, however, taken a leap of faith by trying meditation before games this year, just one of the tips his brother - Adelaide defender Jake Kelly - has provided this year.

Craig Kelly at Collingwood training.

Jake Kelly in action for Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed

“He’s been a real help with trying to help me stay focused on the game and making sure I’m not getting lazy towards the end of the year and also just the little thing he’s told me like Smiling Mind, his meditation app, he’s given me to help me stay relaxed before games and that,” Kelly said.

Jake, who has played 53 AFL games for the Crows, was overlooked by Collingwood as a father-son selection in the 2013 national draft.

Will said he was prepared for anything as a result, despite his preference being to pull on the boots for the club he grew up supporting.

“It would be pretty awesome to go to Collingwood but I’m very aware there’s no guarantee to go there so my main goal is just to get drafted wherever I end up,” he said.

Originally published as Will Kelly ready to follow father and brother’s footsteps into AFL