Father-son prospects Will Kelly, Ben Silvagni show good early signs in TAC Cup

COLLINGWOOD’S run of father-son prospects is set to continue as premiership defender Craig Kelly’s son Will roars up the draft charts, while Carlton watches another Silvagni closely. WATCH THEM IN ACTION

COLLINGWOOD’S pipeline of father-son prospects is set to continue in November as premiership defender Craig Kelly’s son Will roars up the draft charts.

Will is a 195cm defender who has been the most impressive of the Oakleigh Chargers’ seven father-son prospects in the early rounds of the TAC Cup.

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Previously known as a close-checking defender like father Craig and Adelaide-listed brother Jake, Will has been moved to centre half-forward this year.

He can also move through the midfield and is likely to play on the wing at times for Oakleigh this weekend.

It has added a new-found versatility to his game and might make a difficult father-son decision much easier.

The Pies were pilloried for overlooking Jake Kelly as even a rookie pick, with Collingwood also choosing not to pick fellow father-son option James Stewart.

He battled for opportunity at GWS then has blossomed at Essendon as a third marking tall after the Bombers outbid Collingwood with a better deal as he departed GWS.

Collingwood must navigate the potential selection of Kelly and potential Next Generation academy pick Isaac Quaynor in what is tipped as an AFL super draft.

The Magpies have no second-round selection but an additional third-round pick after trading for Sydney’s running defender Sam Murray last year.

Oakleigh Charger Quaynor is an impressive 180cm running defender eligible for the Pies’ NGA zone because of his Ghanaian heritage.

Isaac Quaynor (left) wrestles with Levi Greenwood at Collingwood training. Picture: Michael Klein

Oakleigh talent manager Craig Notman said Kelly had been extremely impressive in early TAC Cup skirmishes.

“He has been the best performer of our father-sons so far. Will has been terrific. He shows great flexibility,” Notman said.

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He has been seen as more of a defender but we have thrown him forward from a personnel point of view and he has got the ability to go through the midfield.

“He will play on a wing at times this week. For a six foot five kid who has got great running ability and really neat skills for a kid that size, it shows great flexibility.

“We are looking forward to what he might be able to do by the end of the year, which would be good to see.”

Collingwood’s list already includes father-sons Darcy Moore, Josh Daicos, Callum Brown and Tyler Brown.

Quaynor’s form was so impressive he was able to play his way into this year’s AFL Academy squad as a running defender.

Collingwood will have to be prudent about which father-son and NGA picks it takes as it goes about assessing its list needs.

But in a team that needs key-position players it would be extremely hard to overlook Kelly given his attributes and his brother’s impressive form at Adelaide.

Ben Silvagni took part in Carlton’s pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Carlton 196cm father-son prospect Ben Silvagni, quieter in school football for Xavier last year after sky-high early plaudits as a junior, has also started playing TAC Cup at Oakleigh.

Like brother Jack, he will play only one year of TAC Cup as father Steve, the Blues list manager, attempts to help them balance footy and schooling.

“Ben has been improving with each game he plays with us and he played his best game last week in our loss,” Notman said.

“He kicked a couple of goals and he is quite raw at this level but he is showing good signs he is going in the right direction.

“He is quite deceptive. You wouldn’t describe him as quick in a game sense but his testing shows he has pace and his GPS data in games shows speed.

“He has a good set of hands and he judges the ball well and finishes in front of goals well too.”