Paul Kelly (born 28 July 1969) is a champion Australian rules footballer, winning the Brownlow Medal and serving as captain of the Sydney Swans for ten seasons. 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. Recruited to the AFL by the Swans, Kelly made his debut in 1990, was ...
more
Paul Kelly (born 28 July 1969) is a champion Australian rules footballer, winning the Brownlow Medal and serving as captain of the Sydney Swans for ten seasons. 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. Recruited to the AFL by the Swans, Kelly made his debut in 1990, was appointed captain in 1993, won the Brownlow Medal (the AFL's highest individual honour) in 1995, won club best and fairests in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997, All-Australian selection in 1995, 1996 and 1997 (the last two as captain), and the AFLPA's Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000.
Kelly led the Swans to the AFL 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...
less