Tim Kelly has played two games for the Eagles for 43 possessions and one goal. Nothing too special about that. But his career stats after his 50th AFL game on Saturday are very special. Extraordinary even.
So special, in fact, that for possessions and Brownlow Medal votes Kelly has exceeded the comparable statistics of each of the 76 players who have played 50 games for the Eagles over the club’s 34-year history.
The silky-skilled 25-year-old midfielder, who played his first 48 games with Geelong, has amassed 1204 possessions in his 50 games.
Best among the Eagles at the corresponding point of their career have been Matt Priddis (1192), Chris Mainwaring (1108), Dwayne Lamb (1093), Andrew Gaff (1066) and Luke Shuey (1047).
Without rounds one and two of this year included, Kelly has polled 37 Brownlow Medal votes, including 24 votes last year when he finished fifth overall.
The best 50-game vote tally of any of the Eagles is Peter Matera (27), Guy McKenna (24), Shuey (23), Craig Turley (22), Chris Judd (21) and Priddis (21).
Kelly also ranks third among comparable West Coast players for goals at the 50-game mark.
He has kicked 49 majors to trail only Ben Cousins (70) and Judd (58) among midfielders.
Cousins and Judd rank equal 8th and 13th respectively for goals among all Eagles 50-gamers.
This list is headed by Peter Sumich (177), Mark LeCras (105), Josh Kennedy (90), Jack Darling (85), Jason Ball (83), Brett Heady (82), Phil Matera (79), Cousins and Josh Hill (70), Jamie Cripps (65), Karl Langdon and Chris Lewis (63), Judd (58), Peter Matera (55), Peter Wilson (52), Ashley McIntosh and Quinten Lynch (51).
Kelly has played 50 AFL games in a row since making his debut in round one of 2018.
Judd, who debuted in round two of his first season, is the only Eagles player to have bettered this mark. He played 76 games in a row from debut before a one-match suspension.
Only two other Eagles have topped 20 games in a row from their AFL debut – Glen Jakovich (27) and Willie Rioli (24).
Five imports to the Eagles have played more than 20 games in a row from their first game in blue and gold. They were Michael Collica (45), Chad Rintoul (38), Scott Cummings (36), John Annear (22) and Ilija Grgic (21).
Statistically, Kelly has streeted players chosen with him in the 2017 Draft, when he was taken by Geelong at #24 overall.
Brisbane’s #1 pick Cam Rayner also has not missed a game and is second on the games list for the Class of 2017 at 48 from Melbourne’s Bailey Fritsch (47), Fremantle’s Adam Cerra (43) and Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek (42).
Kelly’s possession total of 1204 obliterates the next best – Hawthorn’s James Worpel (811). Then follows Fritsch (756), Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw (676) and Cerra (624).
Kelly has had 12 games of 30 possessions or more. Worpel has had seven and Cerra one. No other 2017 draftee has topped 30.
And Kelly’s 49 goals ranks him fourth for goals among the Class of 2017 behind only Mihocek (68), Collingwood’s Jaidyn Stephenson (62) and teammate Liam Ryan (53).
Kelly is the only 2017 draftee to have won All-Australian selection and, staggeringly, his 37 Brownlow votes is exactly the same number as the rest of the other 2017 draftees combined.
Worpel (10) heads the other vote-getters from the Western Bulldogs’ Aaron Naughton (seven), Mihocek (four), Fritsch (four), Rayner (three), Cerra (three), Stephenson (three), Adelaide’s Darcy Fogarty (one), Brayshaw (one) and West Coast’s Jack Petruccelle (one).
