As the son of a prominent former Collingwood player, you could understand if Jake Kelly wanted to continue the tradition and play for the Club he grew up supporting.

And Kelly – the son of 1990 Magpies premiership player Craig – came close to doing just that. Collingwood nominated the 18-year-old as a possible father-son rookie at the start of October.

The Pies could’ve added the young defender automatically to their rookie list after he made it through last week's AFL National Draft. However, the Club had already retained four rookies, meaning it only had room for one more, Corey Gault. A contracted player, Gault was delisted earlier this month to make room for an extra pick in the national draft.

Kelly read the play. He knew wouldn’t he be carrying on the family name at Collingwood.

He was worried. Not because he’d been overlooked by the Pies, but because he might not get an opportunity to fulfil his childhood team.

“I had a pretty good idea I wouldn't be picked by Collingwood probably the day after the National Draft, but I didn’t know for certain until the day before the Rookie Draft. They were very tight for list spaces,” Kelly said.

“It’s easy to say now, but I was seriously considering not going to Collingwood even if they did want to select me Father-Son. Part of me didn’t really want to go to a Club where the ‘Kelly’ name was known because of my dad. I wanted to get out of that bubble a bit and create my own name at a different club. I knew Adelaide had some interest ... I kinda liked the idea of going into the Rookie Draft as any other player.

“In the end, I didn’t have to make that decision and, luckily, Adelaide gave me an opportunity.”

Kelly was on his way home from a ‘Schoolies’ trip to Byron Bay when the Rookie Draft started.

“My bus was due to leave at 11:15am. I was following the Rookie Draft online until I got a call from the bus driver telling me I had to get to the bus,” he said.

“The Internet connection kept dropping out on the bus, so I was freaking out.

“Eventually, my name came up at pick No.40 ... it was a pretty good bus ride back.”

Kelly climbed into draft calculations after making steady improvement throughout the season.

The athletic 189cm, 84kg, defender/midfielder played 10 TAC Cup games for the Oakleigh Chargers, and three, including an elimination final, for Collingwood’s VFL team towards the end of the season.

Kelly’s stocks rose after an impressive performance at the Draft Combine, where he finished third in the three-kilometre time trial behind midfielders Josh Kelly (GWS) and Nick Robertson (Brisbane Lions).

His level of preparation is already of “AFL standard”, according to Crows National Recruiting Manager Hamish Ogilvie.

“As a kid, I was never the most talented player, so I had to look for an edge,” Kelly said.

“I really enjoy staying fit, so to get that edge I decided to have a really clean diet and to try to get fitter and stronger than everyone else. I need to work on my skills, but physically and mentally is where I try to beat my opponents.”

Kelly thrives on hard work.

Unable to make the Oakleigh Chargers squad last year, the diligent teenager had to make the coaches notice him over the summer. A switch from the midfield to defence also helped his case.

“I was on Oakleigh’s development list in my bottom-age year. I didn’t make the main list, so I had to work pretty hard just to get a pre-season this year and get on the list,” he said.

“Our midfield was pretty talented with the likes of Jack Billings (St Kilda) running through there. The coaches at Oakleigh told me to develop my game at half-back. I really enjoyed playing there, shutting down my opponent and reading the play. I still think I can play in other roles as well.”

Kelly already has a connection with South Australia.

His father Craig, who was recruited from Norwood, was born in SA. Kelly has grandparents in Robe and also the Adelaide Hills, and cousins living in Bordertown.

“They’re spread all across South Australia – just not in Adelaide” he said.

“So, I’ve spent a fair bit of time in SA.”

Kelly arrived in Adelaide on Thursday and will move in with another former Oakleigh Charger, Andy Otten, prior to Christmas.

“I can’t wait to start,” Kelly said.

“I want to see what an AFL environment is like, how professional it is and how hard the guys work. I’ve lived in Melbourne since I was born.

“I’ve never been anywhere else apart from overseas with my family, so I’ll have to grow up and be more independent in a new city.”