O several points I disagree with you Bozo. Like you I have seen some of the best centres around since 1965. Kelly to me is not the sort of centre like Walker, Roberts etc who are fast and given space can destroy an opposition. Kelly is to me more the Lyons/Lyon type of player, a creator, someone who can create space. As I mentioned elsewhere no one had heard of Cliff Lyons or thought much of him at Norths, a 23 year old centre with silky skills but nothing special. I remember saying that we had nabbed someone special without anyone really noticing. He was 24 when he came to Manly and within the next year he was becoming the brilliant Napper that we know.
Some players with natural skills take time to develop their genius, and I believe Kelly has the makings of being something special. He's a year younger than Lyons was at Norths, so I wouldnt be taking much notice of that. Some players with sheer speed, break out quickly, but they also die quickly because they rely too much on that, and speed dies. The creative player just gets better with time, and Kelly is a creative player. He's already almost matching Roberts and Walker in metres, try assists etc. And he's doing it without super speed. Of course Kelly needs to keep improving and developing those skills, but potentially I think he'll be better than Roberts or Walker in the long run. But that's an opinion but like you, one based on extensive recollections of past players.. Let the challenge begin.