Craig Kelly (footballer)

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Craig Kelly (born 16 June 1966), nicknamed Ned, is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Norwood in the SANFL and Collingwood in the AFL. He is 190 cm tall and weighed about 110 kg during his playing days.

Playing career
- Norwood (SANFL): 1984–1988, 121 games, 90 goals
- Collingwood (VFL/AFL): 1989–1996, 122 games, 43 goals
- Total: 243 games, 133 goals

Kelly was part of Collingwood’s 1990 premiership team and was known as a tough defender who could be hot-tempered. He appeared before the tribunals for rough play, including a 1992 incident against Sydney’s Ben Doolan. He was also known for niggling opponents and pinching them.

After retiring in 1996, he founded Elite Sports Properties with Rob Woodhouse (now TLA Worldwide), becoming a player manager for many AFL stars. He coached the Mansfield Eagles to the Goulburn Valley Football League premiership in 2009 and has played a few games for the club.

In management roles, Kelly became CEO of the Collingwood Magpies Netball Club in 2023, in what would be the club’s final year, and in January 2023 was appointed CEO of the Collingwood Football Club, taking over from Graham Wright. In July 2024, Mark Cleaver sued Collingwood, alleging racist slurs by Kelly.

Family
He is the grandson of former minister C.R. "Bert" Kelly and the father of AFL players Will Kelly and Jake Kelly.