GWS star Josh Kelly reveals shocking effects of sling tackle concussion against Adelaide
AS he gears up to take on Melbourne, GWS star Josh Kelly has revealed the shocking effects of the concussion he copped from Taylor Walker’s sling tackle two weeks ago which left him knocked out cold.
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JOSH Kelly has revealed he can barely remember the Giants’ match against Adelaide a fortnight ago after being knocked out in a Taylor Walker tackle.
But the GWS midfield star is solely focused on returning for Sunday’s crucial final-round clash against Melbourne at the MCG.
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Taylor was rubbed out for two matches for his sling tackle on Kelly in the third quarter of the Giants’ victory in Canberra.
GWS dearly missed Kelly in last week’s derby loss to the Swans as the 23-year-old battled ongoing symptoms of headache and memory loss.
“I can’t remember much of the (Adelaide) game at all,” Kelly told The Daily Telegraph.
“I was knocked out. All concussions are different but I remember a couple of my teammates said they ran past me and I was pretty out of it. I can’t remember much about getting off the ground. It’s pretty much a blur to be honest.
“At the time I wasn’t answering the questions properly and the doctor made the right call to rule me out for the game.”
Kelly has shown steady progress this week in his bid to be ready to take on the Demons on Sunday.
GWS go into the final round of the regular season in sixth place but the battle for the finals is so tight they could finish anywhere between third and seventh spot.
“I’m feeling good,” Kelly said.
“I’ve got a few tests to pass and I need to up the exercise and stay symptom free post that. I’m as good as I can be basically at this stage. The first week was letting the symptoms subside and get back to full health. I need to increase the exercise and hope that I don’t have headaches or blurred vision.”
Despite the heavy toll the tackle has taken on Kelly he bears no grudge against Crows skipper Taylor.
“I don’t think Tex went in with the intention to hurt me or be over-aggressive,” Kelly said.
“He said himself he realised mid-tackle that I was in a sticky position and it might have felt like a sling tackle. He didn’t go into the tackle wanting to hurt me it just got a bit awkward about half way through and he thought that as well.”
Kelly continued his recovery at the historic Birchgrove Oval where he introduced the new ‘Fit for Footy’ App to a group of aspiring footballers.
The free App is the brainchild of former GWS doctor Leroy Lobo and Geelong’s Brownlow Medal winner Patrick Dangerfield.
“It’s a super exciting avenue that hasn’t been tapped into yet,” Kelly said.
“It gives you the programs and level of professionalism that players at AFL and AFLW level are at. It also personalises your preparation to suite whatever competition you play in.”
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Originally published as GWS star Josh Kelly reveals shocking effects of sling tackle concussion against Adelaide