Will Kelly, son of Craig Kelly, on Collingwood’s radar

WILL Kelly says following in the footsteps of his father as a Collingwood player would be a childhood dream realised, but nothing is certain after his brother was overlooked by the Magpies.

WILL Kelly says following in the footsteps of his father as a Collingwood player would be a childhood dream realised.

But the son of 1990 premiership player Craig Kelly is aware nothing is certain after brother Jake was overlooked by the Pies.

Kelly is a 193cm key defender who impressed again for Vic Metro on Sunday after also playing as a key forward for Scotch College this year.

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Craig Kelly was a bull-at-a-gate Pies defender as well as the co-founder of management company TLA often touted as a future president of Collingwood.

Will Kelly played the best of his three games against Vic Country, locking away his opponent as well as winning 14 possessions and taking a strong contested mark.

He is considered a later pick in the draft but the Pies could also mine their Next Generation Academy zone with exciting half back Isaac Quaynor.

The 180cm running defender grew up a Collingwood supporter but with a Ghanaian father he is linked to the Pies through their Oakleigh zone.

Quaynor missed Sunday’s national championships game with injury but in some phantom drafts is assessed as a top-15 pick.

Draft prospect Will Kelly. Picture: AFL Victoria

Kelly told the Herald Sun he was happy with his development this year and would be thrilled to get to Collingwood.

“I am happy with how my year is progressing so far but I definitely have things to improve on so I will see how it goes at the end of the year,” he said.

“It would be pretty surreal (to get to Collingwood), it would be awesome. But I am just keeping my options open in case I don’t end up at a club at all, or at Collingwood.

“I just have to see how it goes.”

Collingwood will have to assess where other clubs bid for Kelly but his upside and athleticism make him a more draftable player than Jake.

Jake Kelly was no certainty to get drafted at any club but through sheer hard work has fashioned himself into a quality player.

Adelaide defender Jake Kelly, brother of Will. Picture: Sarah Reed

The 23-year-old was overlooked by the Pies and Adelaide swooped with Pick 40 in the 2014 rookie draft.

Collingwood’s only pick in the 2014 rookie draft was Corey Gault (six games), with Adelaide also securing Charlie Cameron with the seventh selection in the rookie draft.

“Yeah, I think I was in Year Seven and I learned from him that even if you don’t go to the place you really want to, you can still make your way with where you want to go with a different path.

“There isn’t any certainty, it’s what happens. (Dad) is just taking it game by game, always pointing out places where I can improve, but he’s the first one to say I have done well too.”

Will Kelly is taller than his older brother — 193cm to 190 — and has a strong frame at 83kg.

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