For every draft hopeful there is always a group of people who have lent their support and guidance to the young footballer in their quest to make it in the AFL.
For the GIANTS’ latest number two draft pick Josh Kelly, having a father who made it to the top level was an invaluable influence on his young football career.
His father Phil Kelly played 61 games as a wingman for North Melbourne in the 1980s after crossing from Western Australia where he won two Sandover Medals for East Perth in the WAFL.
“Just knowing that he has that knowledge form his time playing footy was just a really good resource to bounce ideas off,” Josh told GIANTS TV on the Gold Coast today.
“Ever since I started playing footy in Under-9s I’ve just been able to talk to him about my games and get feedback and advice so to have somebody like that has been really helpful.”
While Phil has been a role model for Josh, the elder Kelly also had no shortage of pride in his son.
“He hasn’t always been someone who was really successful because of his size during his middle years,” Phil said.
“But he kept working and working and his commitment to training and being professional has been first class.
“I’m particularly proud of all the work he’s put in.”
His father’s pride is matched by his mother’s elation at seeing her son’s footballing dreams come true.
“I’m excited, it’s surreal after all the years of watching Josh play junior football he’s now an AFL football player so I’m just so proud and so excited,” Trish said.
Excitement is an emotion shared by Josh as he prepares to move to Sydney and begin pre-season training with the GIANTS on Monday.
“(I’m) very excited and relieved. I’ve been waiting for this day, to be finally on an AFL list, for a long time now and to be at GWS I’m absolutely stoked and look forward to getting into it,” Josh said.
“They’ve (the GIANTS) had a lot of years of high draft picks and now they’ve brought in a lot of mature boys this year so it’s an awesome time to be joining the club and I look forward to getting into it.”
While Trish knows it will be a big move for her 18-year-old son to move out of home and interstate, she believes Josh will be able to handle it, even if it may be tough for herself.
“Everyone keeps asking that. I’ve got full confidence he can do it and switch on when he has to, I’m sure he’ll be fine,” she said.
“(It’s scary), as it would be for any mother. Monday’s the day and I have to stay composed but we’ll see him, we’ll travel up frequently and on the phone, Skype ... Everything’s there to keep in contact with him.”
