Geelong Assistant Kelly Prioritizes Carlton Coaching Role

Geelong assistant coach James Kelly has made pursuit of the Carlton senior coaching position his priority and might not make himself a candidate for the Essendon job. Kelly finished his playing career at Essendon in 2016 and 2017 and later worked as an assistant coach for the Bombers.

According to well-placed sources familiar with Kelly’s situation, he has put himself forward for the Carlton position and may not chase the Essendon senior coaching position.

The Blues have been holding coffees or less formal catch-ups with various candidates and will soon move to more formal interviewing. The position is currently occupied by caretaker Josh Fraser, who suffered his first defeat on Saturday night against Hawthorn.

St Kilda assistant Corey Enright, Geelong assistant James Rahilly, Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham, Hawthorn’s assistant Daniel Giansiracusa and Kelly are among the current assistants and candidates for the Carlton position. Collingwood assistant and head of strategy Hayden Skipworth met with Carlton chief executive Graham Wright for a discussion last Thursday.

Kelly would join ex-Collingwood senior coach Nathan Buckley as non-starters for the Essendon position. The Bombers last week said they would speak to about 10 candidates in initial discussions. Giansiracusa ruled himself out of running for the Bombers from the outset after quitting Essendon at the end of 2025 to work with the Hawks.

Enright is expected to talk to the Bombers about their role as well as Carlton’s. Essendon’s former champion and coach James Hird has declared his candidacy. Skipworth, an ex-Essendon player and assistant coach, is expected to be a candidate, along with Enright.