John Frederick Kelly (15 July 1916 – 23 June 1971) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2014), p.468.
Professional athlete A finalist in the 1939 Stawell Gift (he finished fourth),Stawell Gift Finalists, The (Brisbane) Telegraph, (Friday, 14 April 1939), p.16.Shaw, Roy, Sprague's yard win in Stawell Easter Gift, The Argus, (Tuesday, 11 April 1939), p.14. he won the Bendigo Gift (also 130 yards) two days later.Kelly wins Gift, The Argus, (Thursday, 13 April 1939), p.20.
Football Red Cliffs (MDFL) Kelly was recruited from the Red Cliffs Football Club in the Mildura District Football League, where he won the 1935 Mildura Junior Football League best and fairest award.
St Kilda (VFL) Geelong want Jack Kelly: Letter to St. Kilda, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 14 February 1938), p.22.
1937 Best First-Year Players In September 1937, The Argus selected Kelly in its team of 1937's first-year players.Football Season's Many Good Recruits, The Argus, (Tuesday, 7 September 1937), p.14.
Best First-Year Players (1937)BacksBernie Treweek(Fitzroy)Reg Henderson(Richmond)Lawrence Morgan(Fitzroy)H/BacksGordon Waters(Hawthorn)Bill Cahill(Essendon)Eddie Morcom(North Melbourne)Centre LineTed Buckley(Melbourne)George Bates(Richmond)Jack Kelly(St Kilda)H/ForwardsCol Williamson(St Kilda)Ray Watts(Essendon)Don Dilks(Footscray)ForwardsLou Sleeth(Richmond)Sel Murray(North Melbourne)Charlie Pierce(Hawthorn)Rucks/RoverReg Garvin(St Kilda)Sandy Patterson(South Melbourne)Des Fothergill(Collingwood)Second RuckLawrence MorganCol WilliamsonLou Sleeth
Oakleigh (VFA) South Gambier (MGDFA) In 1949 he was appointed captain-coach of the South Gambier Football Club in the Mount Gambier and District Football Association.South Appoints New Coach: Ex-Interstate Player, The (Mount Gambier) Border Watch, (Thursday, 3 March 1949), p.6.
Military service He served in the RAAF during World War II.Nominal Roll.Service Record.
Notes
References World War Two Nominal Roll: Leading Aircraftman John Frederick Kelly (418129), Department of Veterans' Affairs. World War Two Service Record: Leading Aircraftman John Frederick Kelly (418129), National Archives of Australia.
External links
Jack Kelly, at The VFA Project.