James KELLY

2017 Digest:   Veteran spare parts man has worked through a three-day-a-week pre-season and emerged ready to go.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	Haw	Solid outing and provided composure with ball in hand when the game was at its hottest.	7
2	Bris	Was the link man in unassuming role in defence. Pace was an issue once or twice against the younger Lions.	5
3	Carl	Took time to find his feet but worked into the contest for 20 disposals. Only three tackles which is surprising for him.	5
4	Adel	Cost his team a goal in the first term with an undisciplined 50 metre penalty.	4
5	Coll	Hard body came in very handy in the conditions as he stood firm at half back.	7
6		Rested.
7	Frem	Only 13 possessions and Essendon are better with the ball in his hands.	5
8	Geel	Celebrated 300th game with a brilliant opening term than helped side get off to a flyer. Chaired off by Selwood/Heppell.	7
9	WCE	Solid effort at half back. Sent a long time on the bench on first term, but ran out the game well.	7
10	Rich	Veteran didn’t star but did find enough ball to keep himself in the game. Five inside-50s and 13 effective disposals.	6
11		Groin.
12	Port	Steadying influence at half back and drifting up the ground.	7
13		Bye.
14	Syd	Drifted across half back to play a steady role.	6
15	Bris	Was’t a significant factor in the game.	3
16	Coll	Veteran mopped up with aplomb all day. Played loose to muster 32 possessions and hit target with 27 of those.	8
17	StK	Picked up the first gamer young Battle and didn't allow him a sniff early.	7
18	NM	Not as impactful as he was against the Saints. 12 disposals and five strong tackles.	4
19	WB	Battled for long periods at half back and wasn’t able to influence the game off half back.	4
20		Rested.
21	Adel	Kept at the task and never gave up.	5
22	GCS	Steady head in defence, helping himself to 22 possessions and five tackles. 96% efficiency.	7
23	Frem	Caught out for speed a few times and wasn’t a big factor on the day	4
EF	Syd	Last game was one that ended with 17 possessions but very limited impact on the flow of the game. Great career.	4

2016 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	GCS	Pushed back hard to help defence and laid seven tackles.	7
2	Melb	Veteran won a few key one-on-ones and used ball to advantage of teammates.	7
3	Port	Class act who just knows how to find the footy and deliver it with perfection.	7
4	Geel	Former Cat got won some ball but not damaging. No inside-50s and one clearance.	5
5	Coll	Essendon’s best. Produced an impressive four-quarter effort and worked hard both ways.	7
6	Carl	Swept across half back to be among the Dons’ best. Didn’t star but did what he could.	6
7	Syd	Used the ball extremely well playing through the midfield and across half back.	6
8	NM	Solid again, particularly in first half when the flow of the game was against his team.	6
9	StK	Was often the plus one in defence and used all his experience to take full advantage.	8
10	Rich	Not as damaging as previous weeks and played more up the ground. Six inside-50s, 10 tackles.	7
11		Managed.
12	Haw	Uncharacteristic poor kicks and turnovers early, but veteran was better later on.	4
13	GWS	Cracked in and intercepted ball well. Two critical decision making errors costly in final term.	6
15	WCE	Essendon’s primary ball winner. Continued to defy his age.	7
16	StK	Veteran continued to be a solid contributor and gave an accomplished display.	6
17	Rich	Provided composure in defence and a good finish in front of goal when teammates tried and failed.	6
18	Bris	Not as prominent as he has been at half back and struggled to get from contest to contest.	5
19		Rested.
20	Geel	Led team in disposals against former side. Has the tricks to be a factor in the game.	7
21	GCS	Took Davis and Ah Chee in Suns’ attack and positioned himself well. Marshalled the troops.	7
22	WB	As ever a strong worker and used his footy intelligence to good effect.	7
23	Carl	A typical cool, composed and classy display in the back-half.	7

2015 Season

Played for : Geelong

1	Haw	Gave what he could in the middle but was swamped as Hawks got on top.	5
2	Frem	Started well but dropped off and failed to impact contest with any drive.	4
3	GCS	Loose on Bennell early but his pressure late in the game helped side to victory.	6
4	NM	Not his best performance. Four effective disposals and virtually no influence.	2
5	Rich	Among the best until he copped a split knacker and was taken to hospital.	6
6		Testicle.
7		Testicle.
8	Carl	Ball handling first class and looked back to his normal self.	7
9	WCE	Tackled well but was often under pressure when he got the ball.	5
10	Ess	One of his best games of the year. Rebounded well and ran hard all night.	7
11	Port	Injured ankle in first term and was subbed out of the match.	1
12		Ankle.
13		Ankle.
14		Ankle.
15	NM	Sub. On in two stints but injured ankle in third term and was hampered.	2
16	WB	Rugged effort playing in midfield. Won plenty of ball but off target in front of goal	7
17	GWS	Sturdy again in the midfield with great ball use and work-rate.	7
18	Bris	Used off a wing and on-ball. Didn’t star but contributed to the effort.	6
19	Syd	Even effort. Four inside-50s and three tackles.	6
20	Haw	Struggling to get into game and then subbed out with injury in third term.	1
21		Ankle.
22	Coll	Mistake ridden game might be his penultimate for the club. Horror night.	4
23	Adel	Fittingly final game netted team-high nine tackles. Enjoyed the contest.	7

2014 Season

Played for : Geelong

1	Adel	Swept up across half back brilliantly and rock solid one-on-one.	8
2	Bris	Steady across half back then did a good job on Zorko in the third term.	7
3	Coll	Caught out of a few times down back but found ways to stay in game.	6
4	WCE	Rock solid across half back and used the ball efficiently which was a highlight.	7
5	Haw	Superb across half-back. Got into right positions at right time to influence game.	7
6	Port	Among best from half back where he thwarted the opposition as best he could.	7
7	Rich	Produced another rock solid display down back. Got in the right spots all day.	8
9	Frem	Under pump across half back but kept chugging. Got caught a few times.	7
10	NM	Reprised midfield role to dominate first half (23 disp) that set team up.	8
11	Syd	Used in midfield and toiled against the tide. Impact not pronounced.	4
12	Carl	Even again throughout playing forward, midfield and back. Work-rate huge.	7
13	StK	While others were doing damage with the ball he was laying 12 tackles.	7
14	GCS	Only touched the ball four times after half time in a disappointing finish.	5
15	Ess	Used midfield then at half back where he saved the day on occasions.	6
16		Rested.
17	Melb	Mopped up from half-back/wing. Fresh after previous week’s rest.	7
18	GWS	Not a real factor despite 21 disp. No tackles for first time since 2009 QF.	5
19	NM	Celebrated game 250 with a good defensive job on Thomas.	6
20	Frem	Critical with his play reading and poise from the back half. Key performer.	7
21	Carl	Cost side a goal with a rare brain fade but steady apart from that.	6
22	Haw	Used down back on Puopolo at times. Lacked offensive impact.	5
23	Bris	Great battle with Green early. Scare through camp when limped off but OK.	6
QF	Haw	Had Puopolo (two goals) and he couldn’t find the footy himself.	3
SF	NM	Poor night. Thomas kicked three early goals on him. Horror finals series.	2
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Geelong

1		Suspended.
2	NM	Won 12 contested possessions, laid seven tackles and five inside-50s.	7
3		Calf.
4		Achilles.
5	WB	A lot of the footy and had his moments but will be better for the run.	6
6	Rich	Quiet first half but second half numbers huge. Had team-high 12 tackles.	7
7	Ess	Laid eight tackles and won 13 contested possessions. Handy but didn’t star.	7
8		Suspended.
9		Suspended.
10	GCS	Ferocity around the ball a key as were his 15 second-half disposals.	7
11	GWS	Bored in all day – 12 cont poss, seven clearances, eight tackles and a goal.	8
13	Bris	Pretty quiet night. Didn’t impact the game offensively and just five tackles,	5
14	Frem	Work-rate massive (16 contested poss, seven tackles). Kept midfield pressure on.	7
15	Haw	Big again – 10 cont poss, seven tackles, five inside-50s and a goal. A star.	7
16	Melb	Bored in. Game highlighted by team-high 11 tackles and six inside-50s.	6
17	Adel	Only five disposals opening half. Did contribute two goals.	5
18	StK	Bounced back with a fierce display – 13 cont poss, six clearances.	7
19	NM	Didn’t find space reflected in fact he had five effective disposals. 10 tackles.	4
20	Port	Still short of best but worked into the game after half time – nine hard tackles.	6
21	WCE	Two goals in second term to go with 10 cont poss, seven tackles, five clearances.	7
22	Syd	Best game for six weeks. Had team-high 10 hard-ball gets and nine tackles.	8
23	Bris	Disposal off but laid a team-high eight tackles and won 12 cont poss.	6
QF	Frem	Workrate good (nine tackles) but rarely found all ball in space to hurt the Dockers.	6
SF	Port	Probably Cats’ best. Great second term when side struggling and finished well.	8
PF	Haw	Struggled to impact the contest at all and only 3 inside-50s and 3 clearances.	4
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Geelong

1	Frem	Workrate and appetite for the contest was superb – 26 disp., 8 tackles.	8
2	Haw	Cracked in for 21 disposals and five inside 50s. Tough and steady.	7
3	NM	Gave his all but his usual clean hands and skill deserted him at times.	5
6	Melb	Took some time to work back into it but second half was solid.	6
7	Adel	Workrate good but always seemed to be under pressure and eff. down.	6
8	Coll	Not a night to remember in game 200. Did contribute team-high nine tackles.	4
10	GWS	One of few Cats to play a solid four quarters – 10 cont. poss., seven tackles.	8
11	Carl	Fumbled at times and not as clean and incisive with his play as he has been.	6
13	Syd	Not one of his better games despite workrate being huge – laid nine tackles.	6
14	Port	Responded from quiet game last week with a solid display – 14 cont poss.	7
15	GCS	Got going in third quarter to help side break game open but can play better.	6
16	Coll	Cats’ best – nine clearances, six tackles and three inside-50s.	8
17	Ess	Efficiency down but workrate enormous – seven clearances, four tackles.	7
18	Adel	Tackle pressure huge and when game was there to be one he stood tall.	8
19	Haw	Had 10 clearances and was one of few Cats to play better after half time.	7
21	StK	Provided the midfield with some pop after missing last week – 11 tackles.	8
22	WB	Grabbed enough ball but only two tackles which is unusual for him.	6
23	Syd	Massive with his pressure around the footy – 16 tackles.	7
EF	Frem	After huge game last week was held by Crowley. No real influence.	4