Brian Kelly
South Melbourne
AFL career
92 games14 goals
- Debut
- R5 1939 v FSC20 May 1939
- Most recent
- GF 1945 v CAR29 Sept 1945
Stats
1945 | SME | 22 | 0.0 |
1944 | SME | 13 | 0.1 |
1943 | SME | 15 | 0.0 |
1942 | SME | 10 | 0.1 |
1941 | SME | 18 | 0.4 |
1940 | SME | 9 | 0.0 |
1939 | SME | 5 | 1.0 |
Bio
A steadfast defender whose career perfectly bracketed the Second World War, Brian Kelly was a pillar of reliability for South Melbourne during a period of immense roster instability. Operating primarily as a back pocket, he was renowned for his durability and discipline, famously being one of only two players to appear in every match for the club during the 1941 season. Kelly’s style was defined by close-checking defence and resilience, traits that were tested to their limit when he lined up in the infamous 1945 "Bloodbath" Grand Final against Carlton. That violent premiership decider marked his final VFL appearance before he moved to Tasmania to captain-coach New Town, where he made an immediate impact by leading the club to a Grand Final in his debut season.
Profile
- Born
- 28 July 1917
- Died
- 13 May 1985 (aged 67y 289d)
- Birthplace
- Elsternwick, VIC
- Deathplace
- Cheltenham, VIC
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 81 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionA steadfast defender whose career perfectly bracketed the Second World War, Brian Kelly was a pillar of reliability for South Melbourne during a period of immense roster instability. Operating primarily as a back pocket, he was renowned for his durability and discipline, famously being one of only two players to appear in every match for the club during the 1941 season. Kelly’s style was defined by close-checking defence and resilience, traits that were tested to their limit when he lined up in the infamous 1945 "Bloodbath" Grand Final against Carlton. That violent premiership decider marked his final VFL appearance before he moved to Tasmania to captain-coach New Town, where he made an immediate impact by leading the club to a Grand Final in his debut season.