If going by past milestone matches for Josh Kelly is anything to go by, then in the words of Phil Davis “look out Essendon.”

Sunday’s match at Metricon Stadium against the Bombers will see Josh Kelly celebrate 150 AFL games and 150 games as a GIANT.

His 50^th match against Carlton resulted in a win, his 100^th against the Swans was also a win – so now is no time to break any habits.

Flipping back the pages in Phil Davis’ version of Josh Kelly, This is Your Life, Kelly was drafted at pick two in the NAB AFL Draft in 2013.

Fittingly the draft was held on the Gold Coast and a young Kelly, who was lucky to weigh 70kg, celebrated his signing with a Baywatch like photoshoot along of the Gold Coast’s main beaches.

While he may not have been beach ready, by the time round one of season 2014 came around Kelly was all but AFL ready. He’d had a faultless pre-season was in a position to put his name forward for selection in the opening rounds.  

By round two the young kid from Brighton had made his way into the squad and made his debut via the green vest late in the game.

In only 30-minutes of footy, the number two draft pick went on to win 12 possessions, three inside 50’s and put a strong case forward for selection the following week.

In round three Kelly earnt his spot in the side and after what he describes a slow start, went on to kick two goals and celebrate his first win as a GIANT.

“I couldn’t get much going early I remember, and I was a bit worried about being the receiver of the red sub vest,” said Kelly.

“But in the end I was able to kick a few goals and get the win, so yeah it was a pretty special day and a pretty special way to get a full game of footy and a win in my first proper game.”

At the end of 2014 it was clear to the competition why he was rated as one of the best midfielders of his draft, with the 19-year-old taking out the 2014 Rising Star for the GIANTS.

Skip ahead a few years to 2017 and after just three years in the AFL competition, Kelly had one of his best seasons to date from his near eight-year career.

Through an array of injuries to the players around him, Kelly moved from the wing to the midfield, which saw his development as a player accelerate.

The 22-year-old was named the club champion being crowned his first Kevin Sheedy Medal and was also named in the 22-player All-Australian side.

“Yeah, it was a good year for me personally,” he said.

“For everything to come together the way it did – as a team we were playing some really good football, I was playing alongside a really good midfield and collectively we made it to the prelim that year.“It was good to take that step in AFL football. I always believed I could be a good, strong, consistent player at AFL level but then to go out and do it consistently in a year in the midfield was something I’m proud of and somewhere that I want to hold myself to that standard moving forward.”

In 2018/2019 Kelly struggled with some groin problems, but the 26-year-old has been in terrific form yet again in 2021 averaging 26-disposals and nearly a goal game.

Kelly, who has been a member of the leadership team since 2018, became the GIANTS' third on-field captain this season when he lead the team against West Coast in round 10. 

A rolled ankle late in game against the Swans in round 18 nearly put the celebrations on hold for a week, however, Kelly has been cleared to play this weekend and celebrate his 150^th game as anticipated.

Kelly becomes the ninth GIANTS player to notch up the milestone and be awarded life membership.