James Kelly (Australian footballer)

James Kelly (born 2 January 1984) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Kelly played primarily as a midfielder and was known for his toughness, endurance, and playmaking abilities. He was a key member of Geelong's dominant era in the late 2000s and early 2010s, winning premierships in 2007, 2009, and 2011.

Kelly was drafted by Geelong with the 17th overall pick in the 2001 AFL Draft. He made his debut in 2002 and quickly established himself as a valuable player. He won the Carji Greeves Medal, Geelong's best and fairest award, in 2007 and 2012. He also earned All-Australian selection in 2011.

After 260 games with Geelong, Kelly was traded to Essendon at the end of the 2015 season. He played 40 games for the Bombers over two seasons before retiring at the end of the 2017 season. Since retiring, he has been involved in coaching and media roles.