Paul Kelly (footballer)

Paul Kelly
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-07-28) 28 July 1969
Place of birth West Wyalong, New South Wales
Original team(s) Wagga Tigers (Riverina Football League)
Height / weight 179cm / 83kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1990 – 2002 Sydney 234 (200)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2002.
Career highlights

AFL

Sydney

  • Sydney Best and Fairest 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997
  • Sydney Captain 1993-2002
  • Sydney Swans Team of the Century (forward, vice-captain)

Paul Kelly (born 28 July 1969) is a former Australian rules footballer, winner of the Brownlow Medal and captain of the Sydney Swans for ten seasons. He was and still is known to Swans fans everywhere as "Captain Courageous".

Born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Kelly initially played rugby league for Wagga Brothers but turned to Australian rules football at age 15.[1] Recruited to the AFL by the Swans, Kelly made his debut in 1990 after being the best player in his school, and was appointed captain in 1993, won the Brownlow Medal (the AFL's highest individual honour) in 1995, won club best and fairests in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997, All-Australian selection in 1995, 1996 and 1997 (the last two as captain), and the AFL Players Association's Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000.

Kelly led the Swans to the AFL Grand Final in 1996—its first since 1945—and was considered one of the best players in the competition during the mid-1990s, but from 1998 onwards was severely hampered by injuries. Kelly retired after 234 AFL games and served as the Swans runner in 2003 before retiring to his farm near Wagga Wagga. His autobiography, Swan Song, was published in 2003 and covers the period until his retirement from football. His No. 14 jumper has since been retired for 5 years, before it was brought out again, this time to be worn by Craig Bird.

In 2005, Kelly was on hand to present the premiership cup to Paul Roos and Barry Hall after the Swans' nailbiting 4-point Grand Final win.

In 2006, he presented the Brownlow Medal to former team mate, Adam Goodes.

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in July, 2007.[2]

Statistics

[3]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
1990 Sydney 45 10 2 4 48 43 91 15 8 0.2 0.4 4.8 4.3 9.1 1.5 0.8
1991 Sydney 14 20 14 20 219 173 392 52 51 0.7 1.0 11.0 8.7 19.6 2.6 2.6
1992 Sydney 14 22 8 16 310 216 526 63 73 0.4 0.7 14.1 9.8 23.9 2.9 3.3
1993 Sydney 14 20 11 6 269 153 422 55 67 0.6 0.3 13.5 7.7 21.1 2.8 3.4
1994 Sydney 14 18 15 12 226 206 432 70 42 0.8 0.7 12.6 11.4 24.0 3.9 2.3
1995 Sydney 14 22 15 11 285 153 438 68 77 0.7 0.5 13.0 7.0 19.9 3.1 3.5
1996 Sydney 14 25 18 13 371 205 576 128 70 0.7 0.5 14.8 8.2 23.0 5.1 2.8
1997 Sydney 14 23 26 30 376 178 554 100 40 1.1 1.3 16.3 7.7 24.1 4.3 1.7
1998 Sydney 14 16 27 11 229 108 337 64 28 1.7 0.7 14.3 6.8 21.1 4.0 1.8
1999 Sydney 14 21 28 25 267 137 404 86 29 1.3 1.2 12.7 6.5 19.2 4.1 1.4
2000 Sydney 14 8 10 2 67 38 105 31 16 1.3 0.3 8.4 4.8 13.1 3.9 2.0
2001 Sydney 14 11 13 11 117 48 165 52 28 1.2 1.0 10.6 4.4 15.0 4.7 2.5
2002 Sydney 14 18 13 13 200 135 335 61 65 0.7 0.7 11.1 7.5 18.6 3.4 3.6
Career 234 200 174 2984 1793 4777 845 594 0.9 0.7 12.8 7.7 20.4 3.6 2.5

Honours and achievements

Brownlow Medal votes
Season Votes
1990 —
1991 —
1992 4
1993 11
1994 11
1995 21
1996 14
1997 21
1998 1
1999 7
2000 —
2001 3
2002 10
Total 103
Key:
Green / Bold = Won

References

  1. ↑ "Kelly, Paul". Sporting Hall of Fame. Museum of the Riverina. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  2. ↑ Paul Kelly in Hall of Fame from the Daily Telegraph
  3. ↑ Paul Kelly's player profile at AFL Tables
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