Team GWS wishes to officially announce that former Sydney Swans Captain and Brownlow medallist Paul Kelly, has accepted a role with the AFL’s newest club and will begin work from February 1.
Kelly, who retired from the Swans in 2002, will continue to be based in Wagga and will work with Team GWS in both talent Identification and fan development programs.
Kelly has flown to Coffs Harbour this week to join head coach Kevin Sheedy and recent Team GWS appointment Tom Harley to asses the State Under 18 trials, where he spoke exclusively to teamgws.com.au.
"I’m really happy about starting this new role, it’s a challenge that I’m ready for."I think the opportunity that we are presenting the kids in southern NSW is what really excites me most. We are providing these kids with a strong pathway with the opportunity to potentially play AFL at the highest level, it something that hasn’t been done there before.
"Kelly said that whilst he was excited to be joining Team GWS, he’s fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead."Putting together a new team is obviously a big job, but it is something that I’m eager to be apart of. It’s going to be a long haul and we all know that, but it’s worth it. We are all committed, we’ve got a great team and I really think we can get this done well.
"I’ve been out footy for a while, and I wanted that because to be honest I was ‘footied out’, but the last year or so I realised I was ready to get back into it and the timing was obviously just right for this opportunity – it was perfect to me.
"There might be a few people out there that will call me a traitor but it really is about the bigger picture. It’s about creating a better opportunity for local kids to realise their full potential in AFL and have a realistic chance to make it through to the club."
AFL (NSW/ACT) General Manger, Dale Holmes said that Kelly’s expertise and appeal will be utilised across the business to help build the campaign for Team GWS.
"Paul will be working with our high-performance team in talent identification and will be critical in promoting the pathway that we now have available for kids in Southern NSW and the ACT, helping them move through the AFL’s talent program and ultimately into our GWS club academy program.
"In addition Paul will take an active role in our fan development programs to help us promote the future growth of the game in NSW and the ACT.
"Appointments like Paul, Kevin Sheedy and Tom Harley reflect the quality of people we want to attract to Team GWS, which inturn helps us to attract more quality people to the club.
