Tim Kelly lights up MCG, proves he belongs in class with Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin

TIM Kelly was working as a sparky’s apprentice this time last year. On Friday night, he lit up the MCG and proved he belongs in the same class as midfield luminaries Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin.

Tim Kelly celebrates a goal.

TIM Kelly was working as a sparky’s apprentice this time last year.

On Friday night, he lit up the MCG.

After being overlooked in five consecutive drafts, Kelly – now 24 - spoke of his relief at Geelong calling his name at last year’s draft while he worried his twins might be born early amid the excitement.

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He’d been playing in the WAFL, at South Fremantle, for a few years.

He has shown the flashes of brilliance he is capable of, but took things to the next level with a 36-disposal and one-goal performance in a valiant three-point defeat to Richmond that sparked the suggestion that he may be the best first-year player in decades who is unfortunately ineligible for the Rising Star.

And alongside the likes of Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Dustin Martin, he looked right at home.

Tim Kelly celebrates a goal.

“We are seeing the emergence of a champion,” commentator Bruce McAvaney declared on Channel 7.

With a few more of him, Richmond might well have been kept at bay on the deck it has made its own.

The match-up football wanted – of Alex Rance and Tom Hawkins – eventuated on the big stage in a big game that had big ramifications for the Cats.

It was dubbed the modern-day Wayne Carey v Glen Jakovich battle - the potentially incoming All-Australian full forward against last year’s full-back and All-Australian captain.

Recent history went out the window – that and many others had said all week that David Astbury would be the man – and a popcorn-worthy battle was on on the ‘G.

There was a pre-game handshake, but then it was on, and bar a few stints on Jack Henry and Daniel Menzel, Rance manned Hawkins who was held to just one goal after a 14-goal fortnight.

Tim Kelly attempts to fend off a Shane Edwards tackle.

“Alex Rance has gotten inside Tom Hawkins’ head,” former Melbourne forward Garry Lyon said on SEN.

If this was a mind game, Rance held the hypnotist’s watch and called the shots, while Henry more than held his own when he had his chance.

Rance clamped down and allowed Hawkins little space, with the big Cat held closely while his teammate Kelly ran rampant.

Kelly is out of contract next season and has been rumoured to want a move back to WA, but as the Herald Sun reported last week, the suggestion is that he is still telling Geelong he wants to stay.

If talks were held today, he could just about write his own cheque.

“I plan on making something of myself at the next level so my hard work has just begun,” he said upon his drafting.

He has most certainly done that.

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