Former #29 - Jake Kelly

[Aceman]

You seem surprised

[Windy_Dill]

Kelly would have to be the most unappreciated player I can remember. He did the teams things that many supporters don’t care for, but coaches love. As a player he had his shortcomings, but in a team where effort was often conditional he stood out as an example of getting everything from his ability.

In footy what you do when your opponent has the ball is half of the game, and at Essendon for a long time we have been one of the poorest at this. That’s why he was a walk-up start every week, respected by his teammates and had an offer on the table for two more years.

[alex.f.94]

@Jake_Brady_10

He did have a 2 year contract infront of him, it was in the article about his retirement.
Ugh

which article?

[Touchedontheline]

The level of criticism and vitriol directed at Jake Kelly is just bizarre.

Yes, he was frustratingly limited from a skill point-of-view, and yes, he didn’t seem to be overly blessed with footy smarts. But he worked his arse off every week, and was very, very good as a lockdown defender. He demonstrably gave his all, all the time. As supporters, we can’t ask for more than that.

If a few more of his teammates worked as hard and prepared as well as Kelly then Essington would be dead and buried. I hope he does well in whatever he chooses to do in the future.

[mdso]

Hasn’t he retired?

[JJohnson]

Link?

That cannot be true.

[James98]

I cant find it anywhere

[karmabomber]

@Windy_Dill

He did the teams things that many supporters don’t care for

Yep…….i got tired of getting coffees and heating pies every time he took a mark and then couldn’t decide what to do next!!!

[theDJR]

[Finding_Nino]

He gave his all for the club all the best in your future endeavours Kelly

[Winderland]

@dingus

Honestly, only Essendon would actually trade in a bog average, underskilled, brainfart prone plodder nepo-baby and proceed to play him over actual developing talent.

Perhaps there was a handshake agreement with his Neanderthal, Collingwood scum, chromosome deficient father to go easy on contract negotiations with his clients?

This from the same person who wrote this in the Heppell thread.

"There’s some quality people on this forum.

This thread makes it easy to determine who they aren’t."

[Finding_Nino]

Not Kellys fault that he kept getting picked maybe if some of his younger team mates in the vfl actually worked thier butt off and took his spot he wouldnt be getting games

[alex.f.94]

like Roberts and Hayes?

lol nino.

[Finding_Nino]

Did Hayes have the same impact as Roberts in the vfl?

[Heffsgirl]

Good luck to him. I think he gave it his all, prepared professionally, did some good lock down roles on small forwards.

[Allblack]

I think people have conveniently forgotten how often we were put to the sword by the best small forwards in the comp before we got Kelly. He did his job most weeks.

[barnz]

Yep instead the small forward slaughtered us through McGrath

[Clone_Hirdy]

@Allblack

I think people have conveniently forgotten how often we were put to the sword by the best small forwards in the comp before we got Kelly. He did his job most weeks.

Kelly was not the problem. Laverde is not the problem. Heppell was not the problem. The probem was Kelly, Laverde and Heppell together in the same team.

[dingus]

@Winderland

@dingus

Honestly, only Essendon would actually trade in a bog average, underskilled, brainfart prone plodder nepo-baby and proceed to play him over actual developing talent.

Perhaps there was a handshake agreement with his Neanderthal, Collingwood scum, chromosome deficient father to go easy on contract negotiations with his clients?

This from the same person who wrote this in the Heppell thread.

"There’s some quality people on this forum.

This thread makes it easy to determine who they aren’t."

And in comparing Kelly’s contribution to Heppell’s, you prove my point.

[Paul_Peos]

@Allblack

I think people have conveniently forgotten how often we were put to the sword by the best small forwards in the comp before we got Kelly. He did his job most weeks.

I reckon he played that role about 5-6 times over the last two years.

If he was playing that role more, I think fans would have had less of an issue with him being in the side.