Josh Kelly is in All-Australian form according to Giants coach Adam Kingsley after win over Melbourne

Josh Kelly is playing the best football of his career and his Giants coach Adam Kingsley believes that puts him right in consideration for higher honours. Could he make the All-Australian team?

Kelly celebrates his match-winning goal against Melbourne in Alice Springs. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

When Josh Kelly let fly from 65 metres out against the Demons on Sunday, Giants coach Adam Kingsley admitted he was nervous about the outcome.

“I’ve never seen him kick that far before so I’m glad he was able to make the distance,” Kingsley said.

Kelly’s wondergoal with less than three minutes to go ended up being the difference in Alice Springs as GWS secured their third-straight victory.

It’s the latest moment to add to the 28-year-old’s highlight reel as he puts together one of his best seasons in the AFL, something his coach believes deserves further recognition.

Kelly’s numbers put him among the elite players in the AFL. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“When goals were really hard to come by, at that moment with three minutes left, it was a wonderful kick from so far out,” Kingsley said.

“I read somewhere he’s the fourth-best player in the league in terms of Champion Data stats.

“That tells you enough about the year that he’s had so far. I’m sure when All-Australian teams are discussed he’ll be well within that discussion.”

Kelly is averaging 28.8 touches and five tackles a game asserting his place as one of the game’s best midfielders.

But he hasn’t had to do it all on his own either with several Giants standing up across the past five weeks to help them become one of the competition’s most in-form teams.

Their pressure without the ball constantly troubled Melbourne on the weekend, despite the Demons dominating in many key areas.

It was a big team performance from the Giants to overcome the Demons. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While finals are now a realistic possibility with the Giants just one win out of the eight, Kingsley believes his side is still some way off the standard needed to play in September.

“A lot of the numbers went Melbourne’s way, so to be able to win the game despite not being the best team for the day was really pleasing,” he said.

‘One of the lessons we took out of it was that’s what the great teams are able to do. We’re aspiring to be that, we’re nowhere near that yet.

“We just keep trying to perform and play our way, make it looks like a Giants game and see where it takes us. It’ll take us to finals or it won’t.

“To be quite frank, we’re one game out of the eight, we’re still a long way away from being a finals team. So we’ve got a lot of work to do before that’s even a possibility.”

They’ll be boosted yet again by the return of Lachie Whitfield from suspension for their game against Hawthorn on Saturday.

The problem for Kingsley will be finding a way to fit him back into the side. Isaac Cumming performed strongly in his AFL comeback game while role players such as Harry Himmelberg and Lachie Ash have shown what they can bring playing off halfback.

Whitfield is ready to come straight back into the side after his one-week suspension. Picture: Phil Hillyard

There are worse problems to have for a team trying to force their way into the top eight.

“[It’s] competitive for spots in the back half, particularly after the weekend’s performance,” Kingsley said.

“Lachie (Whitfield) will come straight back in, he’s ready to go. We’ll have to manage that somehow.

“We’ll train on Thursday and select the best team we think can take on Hawthorn and get the win.”

Brent Daniels is another player who Kingsley confirmed is a chance to play as he recovers from a hamstring injury.