Career
He was and still is known to Swans fans everywhere as "Captain Courageous". Born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Kelly initially played rugby league for Wagga Brothers but turned to Australian rules football at age 15. Kelly led the Swans to the American Federation of Labor-Congress Grand Final in 1996—its first since 1945—and was considered one of the best players in the competition during the mid-1990s, but from 1998 onwards was severely hampered by injuries.
Kelly retired after 234 American Federation of Labor-Congress games and served as the Swans runner in 2003 before retiring to his farm near Wagga Wagga.
His autobiography, Swan Song, was published in 2003 and covers the period up until his retirement from football. His Number. 14 jumper has since been retired for 5 years, before it was brought out again, this time to be worn by Craig Bird.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in July, 2007.