Jake Kelly joins Mansfield as an assistant coach for next year

Recently retired AFL player Jake Kelly has finalised his football commitments for this year and he’s made a call on whether he will be playing.

Jake Kelly has made a decision on whether he plays footy in 2025. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

Former Adelaide and Essendon defender Jake Kelly is returning home to his junior club, Mansfield, but for the time being it won’t be in a playing capacity.

The 168-game AFL player has signed for the Goulburn Valley league side as a non-playing assistant coach.

Kelly is the son of former Collingwood premiership player and current chief executive Craig Kelly.

Craig played and coached Mansfield in the 2000s, leading the team to the 2009 premiership.

Jake played his juniors at the club while his father was there before he played for Oakleigh Chargers and Collingwood in the VFL before being starting his AFL career with Adelaide.

Now he returns to the club and is keen to be involved.

“We were looking to shore up our off-field just a little bit more because we are such a young team,” Mansfield football director Bo Christopher said.

“We started a few conversations with Jake and he was really keen to come back in some capacity.

“Jake was the perfect fit for us.”

Jake Kelly has signed with Mansfield for next season. Picture: Mansfield Football Netball Club.

Christopher said he’ll play a role on game day as an assistant.

He’ll also play a vital role in training.

“He’s going to train when he can with the Melbourne group,” Christopher said.

“Like most country clubs we have a Melbourne group where most of our young kids are at university. Jack Hutchins (our co-coach) takes the Melbourne group.

“And Mitch Wareham, our other co-coach, takes the Mansfield group.”

The hope, Christopher said, was to allow the three coaches to help the group grow.

Christopher added Kelly’s involvement won’t involve playing in 2025 with the former AFL player to have a year off.

Kelly’s addition continues a busy off-season for Mansfield.

The team has signed three VFL players, to compliment their current squad, which features a young group.

Former Collingwood player Callum Brown was the first before the club added Matt King and Nick Gray.

Christopher said on the field the club was putting everything together for success.

“Where we are headed on field is the right way,” he said.

“We’ve got almost all our local boys back nearly now. And guys who are grown in the area with Callum and all that sort stuff.

“We feel like we are heading the right way but you can never control injuries and stuff. We’re hoping to make it into the finals and from there who knows.

“But you’ve just got to get there to play finals.”

Mansfield starts its Goulburn Valley league season against Mooroopna on April 5.

Originally published as Jake Kelly joins Mansfield as an assistant coach for next year