Under the bright lights of Friday night football at the MCG, Tim Kelly stood up and delivered. 

Against the reigning premiers with 18 consecutive MCG wins, he gathered 36 touches and kicked a goal in a performance rarely seen from a first-year player.

Post-match, Chris Scott was quick to elevate Kelly’s performance above those of Ablett, Dangerfield, Selwood and Martin.

“I thought Tim Kelly was better than all of them. Easily,” he said.

“I thought he was clearly the player that stood above the others in and around the contest.”

Kelly’s year has been a remarkable one.

Not even the prototype mature-age midfield recruit, Michael Barlow, managed a game with 36 touches in his debut year.

Few players have done better. Former Cat Greg Williams and his 38 disposal performance on debut springs to mind.  

Kelly’s first season in the league stacks up with some of the best in recent memory.

Twitter stats guru @sirswampthing put Kelly’s knack for hitting the scoreboard whilst also racking up the touches in perspective.

The classy midfielder has found himself amongst the goals time and time again, with his ability to weave through traffic and find space for snaps on goal repeatedly coming to the fore. 

Chris Scott was quick and pointed in his approach as his repeatedly shot down any mention of a big three in the midfield in his post-match press conference on Friday night.

The Cats now have a big six rolling through the middle.

With Kelly, Duncan, Menegola, Ablett, Dangerfield and Selwood, Geelong has one of the deepest and most versatile midfields in the league which will hold them in good stead with the task that is to come.