Having missed finals in the 2024 Goulburn Valley League season, the High Country outfit has been making moves that would indicate there’s no intention of letting that happen again.
Perhaps not for some time, in fact, if the Eagles get their wish.
Having already brought VFL senior leadership figure Matt King into the fold on a full-time basis, following the signing of former Collingwood midfielder Callum Brown, another long-tenured former local has joined the cause in an off-field capacity.
Jake Kelly, who served a decade of playing time in the AFL between Adelaide and Essendon, has committed to the Eagles as an assistant coach for the 2025 season.
The son of Collingwood chief executive Craig, Jake was first taken in the rookie draft by the Crows ahead of season 2015 after the Magpies elected to pass on a potential father-son pick, going on to play 168 AFL games with 58 coming at the Bombers from 2022-24.
Having shocked large parts of the football community by announcing his retirement from the elite level last season before his 30th birthday, Kelly will train in co-ordination with Mansfield’s Melbourne-based contingent before offering his coaching services on match days.
Club president Bo Christopher was happy to bring another experienced individual in who once called Mansfield home — and rightly so.
“Jake lived here and played his footy in our junior program before he moved to Melbourne, got drafted and all the rest,” Christopher said.
“His dad Craig is the last premiership coach for us and he was keen to come home.
“Jake reached out to us in October when he retired from playing. He floated the idea and we let him have a rest since he’d had so long in the system.
“We’re looking to strengthen our experience off the field to help our guys on it and, with Jack Hutchins as a playing coach, we thought it would be a perfect fit.”
Christopher said Kelly’s absence from the football field itself this year was part of a planned 12-month hiatus from playing, understandably so after a long time spent at the top.
Naturally, though, the question creeps up about whether any possibilities might open up a year from now as far as pulling on the blue and gold.
Christopher remains tight-lipped for now.
“He really wanted to make the move happen in whatever capacity we could see benefit in,” Christopher said.
“He was keen to get into coaching and he’s taking the year off footy, so we’ll see what happens.
“There’s no pressure from us; it’s whatever is best for his health and it’s ultimately his decisions after he’s had a number of injuries.
“It’s just another great get for our club and our culture moving forward.”
