Ernie Kelly
Carlton
AFL career
8 games11 goals
- Debut
- R2 1908 v MEL9 May 1908
- Most recent
- R17 1908 v RCH15 Aug 1908
Stats
Bio
Born in Port Melbourne, Ernie Kelly forged a formidable reputation in Western Australia before making his brief mark in the VFL. A giant of his era standing 191cm, Kelly established himself as a dominant key forward in the WAFA, topping the league's goalkicking and winning a premiership with East Fremantle in 1904 alongside his brothers Harvey and Otto. He returned to Victoria in 1908 to reunite with Harvey at Princes Park, making an immediate impact with three goals on debut against Melbourne. Despite his towering frame and impressive strike rate, Kelly found it difficult to command a permanent spot in Jack Worrall's powerhouse lineup—which was en route to a third consecutive premiership—and he managed just eight senior appearances for the Blues before his elite career concluded.
Profile
- Born
- 17 Nov 1884
- Died
- 22 May 1939 (aged 54y 186d)
- Birthplace
- Port Melbourne, VIC
- Deathplace
- Heidelberg, VIC
- Height
- 191 cm
- Weight
- 84 kg
Teams
Family
- Brother:Harvey Kelly, Otto Kelly
Bio
1 revisionBorn in Port Melbourne, Ernie Kelly forged a formidable reputation in Western Australia before making his brief mark in the VFL. A giant of his era standing 191cm, Kelly established himself as a dominant key forward in the WAFA, topping the league's goalkicking and winning a premiership with East Fremantle in 1904 alongside his brothers Harvey and Otto. He returned to Victoria in 1908 to reunite with Harvey at Princes Park, making an immediate impact with three goals on debut against Melbourne. Despite his towering frame and impressive strike rate, Kelly found it difficult to command a permanent spot in Jack Worrall's powerhouse lineup—which was en route to a third consecutive premiership—and he managed just eight senior appearances for the Blues before his elite career concluded.