GWS Giants AFL news: Greater Western Sydney Giants onballer Josh Kelly eyeing repeat of his 2017 All-Australian campaign
An All-Australian in 2017, Josh Kelly has had a trio of interrupted seasons but is eager to return to the competition’s best. Are KFC SuperCoaches sleeping on the Giant?
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Gun Giant Josh Kelly spent the off-season studying the likes of Andrew Gaff, Scott Pendlebury and Patrick Cripps to plot a return to the AFL’s elite.
Kelly franked his reputation as one of the game’s brightest talents with All-Australian selection in 2017, the season he rejected North Melbourne’s audacious nine-year, $10 million offer to lure him south.
That breakout campaign was supposed to be the beginning of the now 26-year-old’s path to the top. Instead, it remains Kelly’s best season.
He wants to change that this year, with Greater Western Sydney needing him more than ever, after Jeremy Cameron, Zac Williams, Aidan Corr, Jye Caldwell and Zac Langdon left for rival teams.
Kelly is still one of the Giants’ most important players, but the silky midfielder’s club best and fairest results since winning in 2017 are ninth, outside the top 10, and equal-fourth.
The recurring theme? Injury. Nothing overly serious, but annoyingly constant and varied.
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A groin problem and concussion kept him to 16 of 24 games in 2018; knee, adductor and calf setbacks meant only 18 appearances out of 26 in 2019; and he played 14 of a possible 17 times last year, because of calf and concussion issues.
“It’s definitely been a frustrating element in the past few years,” Kelly told The Daily Telegraph.
“I start to feel like I’m finding some form and playing good football, then that run comes to an end because of injury.
“I hadn’t really dealt with injuries until three or so years ago, whenever it was that I had groin soreness. It’s just been those little inconsistencies.
“That’s the pleasing thing about this pre-season – it’s been consistent. I’ve been able to work on certain areas of my game that I probably haven’t been able to in previous pre-seasons.”
Kelly will also be a free agent for the first time this year, albeit a restricted one, and the Kangaroos and others are certain to come calling again.
The other option is for him to trigger an automatic extension – negotiated when he re-signed for two years in 2019 – that will see him remain a Giant well into his 30s.
Kelly is preparing to answer repeated questions about his contract situation, but said his focus was elsewhere.
“I feel like after my breakout year, I was really looking forward to cementing myself as just a week in, week out consistent footballer,” he said.
“That’s the thing that’s frustrated me the most – not being able to be out there every week, continuing to improve my game, help my teammates and be reliable, in that sense.
“It’s hard to entirely reflect on without being a bit frustrated at times, but, at the same time, I’ve felt like I’ve had good patches of form where I’ve been able to be at my best.”
Rather than constantly identifying faults in his own arsenal, Kelly prefers to learn from the best, whether that’s NFL quarterback Tom Brady, any number of NBA superstars, or even closer to home in the AFL.
Gaff’s work ethic, Pendlebury’s craftiness and class around the contest, and Patrick Cripps’ body use have given Kelly plenty to absorb.
One thing is certain in Kelly’s pursuit of greatness: he won’t leave anything to chance. In fact, his GWS teammates often rib him for his unerring pre-match routine.
His carbohydrate-packed dinner the night before consists of pasta, garlic bread or pizza and salad, then he’ll have some toast afterwards.
Game day always starts the same way, too: a few Weet-Bix, a banana and more pasta.
“You’d have to ask some of my teammates. I swear they know me better than me sometimes. I just like it being pretty consistent,” Kelly said.
“Also, post a game, if I haven’t had a good game, I don’t want to look back and say, ‘I did this differently’.
“I don’t want there to be any reasons or excuses for why I may not have played well, or for playing better than normal.”
BIG, BIG DEBUT: GIANTS TO UNLEASH DRAFT PRODIGY
Greater Western Sydney will unleash a pair of AFL debutants against St Kilda on Sunday as the Giants prepare to kick off their season of redemption with a new-look squad.
Hard-luck ruckman Matt Flynn and first-round draftee Tanner Bruhn – fresh from kicking four goals against Sydney in the Community Series two Sundays ago – will be in GWS’s final 22.
Coach Leon Cameron rubber-stamped their selections on Monday, but ruled out Jake Riccardi after the key forward suffered an ankle injury in an intraclub game on Saturday morning.
Cameron was particularly thrilled for Flynn, an Academy product who was the No. 41 pick in 2015 but had to bide his time through injury and playing behind more seasoned big men.
“He walked into our footy club 1940-odd days ago. It’s a wonderful story,” Cameron said.
“We let the guys know … and there was a lot of emotion in the room, because they know how hard Matty’s worked to get this opportunity. It puts a smile on my face.
“With AFL footy; it’s so hard, it’s brutal. Flynny hasn’t had a lot of luck over the last few years, but he gets a great opportunity on Sunday.”
Flynn, who had to fight back from an ACL rupture in mid-2019, was dealing with an ankle complaint, but proved his fitness at the weekend.
A number of lightly played teammates are set to join them in facing flag fancy St Kilda at Giants Stadium, with Isaac Cumming, Connor Idun and Jack Buckley also strongly in the mix.
There is still a decision to make on former captain Phil Davis (knee), but Jesse Hogan (quadriceps) won’t play until at least round two and Lachie Whitfield (bruised liver) is another fortnight beyond that.
The forward set-up without Riccardi and Hogan remains a source of intrigue, with Cameron adding more complexity to the situation.
Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson are likely to be there, but Buckley, Idun and Davis could all play a role in the forward half if required.
Cameron said he may even contemplate selecting untried ruckman Kieren Briggs.
The coach wants to re-establish a more attacking style of football as they take aim at returning to the finals.
“We want to play a brand of footy where we’re hard to play against. We dropped away in that aspect in 2020,” he said.
“Clearly, we need to move the ball better and we’ve worked on that heavily over the pre-season. We’re not shy about going through the corridor again.
“Idun, Buckley, Cumming, Riccardi, Flynn – all these guys who’ve been waiting for the last few years will get opportunities. We’re excited about what’s coming through.”
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Originally published as GWS Giants AFL news: Greater Western Sydney Giants onballer Josh Kelly eyeing repeat of his 2017 All-Australian campaign
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