Ben Kelly is seeking redemption.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 202cm prospect enters his third year with the Murray Bushrangers - returning as a 19-year-old in 2019.
Kelly was in draft calculations last season, but an ongoing knee complaint kept him off the park throughout the campaign and was a factor why he was overlooked by AFL clubs.
He watched as teammates Ely Smith, Jacob Koschitzke, Mathew Walker, Finn O'Dwyer, Laitham Vandermeer and Jordon Butts found their way onto a list.
"It was disappointing," Kelly revealed.
"You're happy to see your mates get drafted, but you're also a bit disappointed at the same time.
"Obviously you see that your mates can do it, so you can also do it."
Kelly has turned that disappointment into motivation and hopes his time will come by season's end.
Ben Paton (St Kilda, 2017) and Lachlan Tiziani (GWS, 2016) both made their way to the AFL as Bushrangers top-age players.
"I'm just looking forward to hopefully having a good year and seeing what the year holds," he said.
"I love being back there (at the Murray Bushrangers) and I'm lucky to get back.
"I've played about 20 to 25 games over the two years, so not as many as I would have liked.
"This year I'd like to end up on an AFL list at the end of the year.
"Last year that was probably the goal, but injuries held me back a bit.
"It was just frustrating more than anything last year, so it's good to start a new year."
Related:
Kelly has had a change of role this season, being used behind the ball instead of exclusively in the ruck under new coach Mark Brown.
"I'm taking the centre bounce rucks and then heading down back, which I really like," he added.
"I played all my juniors down back, so it's been good to get back down there and do something I know a bit better.
"Browny has obviously been an assistant coach for four years before this, but I'm loving having him as the head coach.
"He's been really good with me coming back as a 19-year-old."
Kelly also enjoys helping out the younger players.
"It's all about making each other better footballers," he added.
2019 PLAYER LIST
Will Christie, Charlie Byrne, Benjamin Kelly, Austin Shepherd, Cameron Wild, Will Chandler, Zane Barzen, Zavier Maher, Jye Chalcraft, Will Quirk, Nicholas Irvine, Lachlan Ash, Hudson Kaak, Kade Chalcraft, Patrick Parnell, Logan Berryman, Benjamin Ashley-Cooper, Charlie Crisp, James Boyer, Elijah Hollands, Declan Everett, Ethan Baxter, Eddie Keogh, Thomas Panuccio, Liam Fore, Samuel Durham, Adam Martin, Joshua O'Dwyer, Ky Williamson, Liam Andrews, Will Bowden, Joshua Crawford, Kai Davies, Trent Matthes, Lachlan Sykes, Kade Brown, Dylan Clarke, Mitchell Holt, Elijah Amery, Harry Beasley, Clayton Marsh, Jay Hillary, Izac Artavilla, Darcy Melksham, Maclayn Hallows, Cameron McLeod, Sean Thompson, Tom Bracher, Cameron Wilson, Dominic Bedendo, Ryley Bouker, Jhett Cooper.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Round 1: Defeated by Gippsland Power 10.9 (69) - 9.12 (66) - RAMS Arena
Round 2: Bendigo Pioneers - March 30 - Deakin Reserve
Round 3: GWV Rebels - April 7 - Queen Elizabeth Oval
Round 4: Bye
Round 5: Swans Academy - April 27 - Blacktown
Round 6: Giants Academy - May 4 - Albury Sportsground
Round 7: Geelong Falcons - May 11 - Avalon Airport Oval
Round 8: Calder Cannons - May 19 - Norm Minns Oval
Round 9: Oakleigh Chargers - June 1 - Norm Minns Oval
Round 10: Tasmania Devils - June 9 - UTAS Stadium
Round 11: Dandenong Stingrays - June 22 - Shepley Oval
Round 12: Bendigo Pioneers - June 29 - Echuca
Round 13: Eastern Ranges - July 6 - Norm Minns Oval
Round 14: Northern Knights - July 20 - Deakin Reserve
Round 15: Western Jets - July 27 - Norm Minns Oval
Round 16: Bye Round 17: GWV Rebels - August 18 - Queen Elizabeth Oval
FINALS SERIES
Wildcard round: August 24-25
Qualifying/elimination finals: August 31-September 1
Semi-finals: September 7-8
Preliminary finals: September 14-15
Grand final: September 21/22
- Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here