Tim Kelly

Timothy Kelly was born on July 26, 1994, in Perth, with an Indigenous Australian father and a Chilean mother. He began his football career playing junior football for Palmyra. Kelly made his senior WAFL debut for the South Fremantle Football Club in 2013 and was the runner-up in the club’s best and fairest in 2014. Before being drafted into the AFL, he worked as an apprentice electrician. In the 2017 WAFL season, he placed runner-up for the Sandover Medal.

Kelly was drafted by Geelong with the 24th overall pick in the 2017 national draft as an over-age draftee. He debuted in Round 1 of the 2018 season against Melbourne. In 2018, he was voted Best First Year Player by his peers at the AFL Players’ Association Awards. In 2019, Kelly received his first All-Australian selection and finished in the top five for the Brownlow Medal, contributing to Geelong’s preliminary final appearance. Following the 2019 season, he requested and completed a trade to the West Coast Eagles on October 9, 2019, signing a six-year deal.

Since joining the West Coast Eagles, Kelly has continued his professional football career, although the team experienced a challenging period with limited wins. In 2021, he received the Glendinning–Allan Medal for Round 7. He earned the John Worsfold Medal in 2023. As of his fifth season with the Eagles, Kelly remained a key midfielder, averaging 24 disposals over 20 games despite facing opposition targeting. He continues to play for the West Coast Eagles, participating in 20 games in the 2025 season.