During the 2001 National Draft James Kelly was one of the eight players that joined Geelong that year at pick number 17, after Jimmy Bartel at pick 8.
Despite hearing from four different clubs ahead of the draft, Kelly couldn’t help but feel concerned about the unknown.
“Leading up to it I was pretty confident that I was going to get drafted but I still had that little element of doubt,” Kelly told Cats TV.
“I’d had meetings with Adelaide and Geelong, they had both come to my house and I’d spoken to Brisbane on the phone.
“When it was getting closer I was getting more and more nervous and the day before the draft Essendon rang and said they were going to take me with pick number 19, so I was pretty happy with that.”
Growing up Kelly was an Essendon supporter, however, he knew it wasn’t wise to set his sights on only one club.
“I wasn’t getting too carried away that I was definitely going to Essendon,” Kelly admitted.
“They (Essendon) said they would take me at pick 19 - but then they wouldn’t because Brisbane were going to take me at pick 18 or Geelong were going to take me pick 17.
“So I thought one of those three clubs might be the one.”
Kelly and his parents received an invitation to attend the draft, which only heightened the excitement of what was about to come for Kelly.
“When it came down to the actual day I was invited down to the draft, so I went down and sat through the first round until number 17 got called out - which was obviously myself.”
“I was quite ecstatic but I had to control it because there were cameras around.
“Mum was really happy I was staying in Victoria and didn’t have to move too far away… and as an added bonus I barracked for Essendon as a kid and was a fan of ‘Bomber’ - so I was pretty excited about that at the time.”
Kelly fondly recalls the moment when he met his coach for the very first time face-to-face. It was one short conversation that he’ll never forget.
“Bomber came up to me once the draft finished and gave me the club polo. He came up and shook my hand and said congratulations."
“I said ‘thanks very much for taking me’ and he said ‘no, no thanks very much for being there.
“I was pretty nervous and excited at the same time.”
Since his arrival in 2001 James Kelly, who debuted in round 6 in 2002, has dominated the Cats midfield in a grand total of 233 games, including three Premierships, and was named in the All-Australian team in 2011. Kelly is about to embark on his 13th AFL season in 2014.
Geleong draftees of 2001
Jimmy Bartel – 8
James Kelly – 17
Charlie Gardiner – 23
Steve Johnson – 24
Gary Ablett Jnr (FS) – 40
Henry Playfair – 41
Matthew McCarthy – 69
David Johnson – 81
