IF NICKNAME and attitude are anything to go by, Adelaide has a future gun on its hands in rookie defender Jake Kelly.
The 19-year-old son of Collingwood premiership defender Craig Kelly has made a strong impression at West Lakes, where his attack on the ball and competitiveness at training bares resemblance to the club's best player, Patrick Dangerfield.
The likeness isn't lost on Kelly's teammates who have already dubbed him 'The Bull' – an obvious reference to Dangerfield, who is nicknamed 'The Raging Bull'.
He might not have Dangerfield's explosive speed but at 189cm and 84kg Kelly cuts an imposing frame for a first-year player, just as 'The Raging Bull' did in the summer of 2008.
Crows defensive coach Darren Milburn told AFL.com.au Kelly's ferociousness at training was so intense he's had to be reeled in at times for the sake of the club's other players.
"Sometimes you've just got to pull him aside because he goes so hard and we don't want him cleaning up his own teammates," Milburn laughed.
"They've given him the nickname 'The Bull' and he's got a bit of 'Danger' about him I think, hopefully he turns out to be something like Danger – he just doesn't have any regard for his own body and goes 100 per cent all the time.
"I love that about him … you can't teach that in players, you've either got it or you haven't and he definitely has it.
"He's been fantastic so far, the future looks bright for him I think."
Kelly slipped through the net at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, with Milburn claiming his kicking ability had been questioned.
He has good endurance though and ran the third best time in the 3km time trial at the NAB AFL Draft Combine.
With a long-term injury to skipper Nathan van Berlo opening up the race for spots, Kelly has put his best foot forward for a promotion to the senior list.
Milburn said the teenager still had a lot to do before climbing the pecking order, but that early impressions suggested he was capable of doing so eventually.
"He's developing, he's been able to win a bit of the ball in match simulations and use it efficiently," he said.
"When he came to the club there was a bit of a knock on his kicking, but from what I've seen so far he uses the ball and takes the easy option which is positive when you're such a young age.
"With spots opening up who knows, will he get a shot at playing this year? Who knows?
"At this stage he's got a few players in front of him but he's showing every sign that he can match it with them and become a good player for this footy club in years to come."
