Assumptions can be made about elite sports people; that those who reach the highest level of their chosen field have done so through no more than natural talent.

Sure, genetics and God-given skills play their part, but generally that is just the start.

That gets them a foot in the door, opens the pathway to opportunities through selection in development squads and will likely attract the attention of talent scouts.

But what an athlete does with his or her gifts is up to them.

Converting an opportunity, dredging the best from within, so often separates the good from the great.

Tim Kelly had been a highly regarded AFL midfielder for a number of years. After a delayed opportunity at the elite level when over-looked in several drafts he was snared as a 23-year-old by Geelong with pick 24 in 2017.

Two years with the Cats and the young man who cut his teeth at South Fremantle yearned to come home with his young family. It was just a couple of months after he had been selected in the all-Australian team.

His immediate impact in 48 games at AFL level raised questions as to how he slipped through the fingers of recruiters for so long. But it also said a bit about Kelly himself.

Having craved a chance and been disappointed so often on draft night he was determined to make the most of it.

That commitment to get the best from within also saw him take an introspective look at the end of the 2022 season and ponder how he could tweak his preparation to have an even more pronounced impact.

A former mentor at South Fremantle had continued to take a keen interest in Kelly’s career and noted a flaw in his running technique. It became a key pillar in proud Noongyar man producing the best of his six seasons at senior level to win the John Worsfold Medal.

“It’s a nice way to cap off the season,” Kelly said after formally joining Eagles elite as a Club Champion. “Personally, I feel like I had the best year that I have had in my six years in the league.

“Two runners-up at Geelong (in the Cats fairest and best), third last year so it is nice to finally jag one. This year was better than my all-Australian year at Geelong.

“I reconnected with a former coach at South Fremantle, Tony Wilson. He’s a sprint coach and for someone like me who has never really been taught how to run, how to sprint and the basic mechanics of running we were able to make some slight adjustments under his eye.

“That’s something he’s really passionate about. It was something I went after, and it had a massive impact in how I performed pre-season and I was able to carry that forward. I’m looking to dive a bit deeper into that this pre-season.

“We just stripped a few things back. He reached out because he saw me running and he thought it was disgusting. I said ‘mate, it’s funny you mention that because I have never been taught how to run.’

“So it was something very small that I feel definitely helped me. I didn’t have to change a hell of a lot, but there were certain things that made me a more efficient runner and the speed element came off that.

“One thing I felt I was lacking a bit was a little bit of speed.”

That extra pace off the mark helped Kelly to break clear from congestion, particularly as he was the major focus of midfield attention from opposition clubs. He was often the only senior midfielder as captain Luke Shuey, the explosive Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed battled injury.

Undaunted he soldiered on and tried to set an example for his young teammates.

“In terms of consistency this year and in terms of the attention I have received from the opposition and to come away from most games with my head held high I have had my best year yet,” he assessed.

“The pressure has always been there, and the pressure is always going to be there. I’m pretty good at compartmentalising the things I need to do from day to day. When I get home, I live a very different life to the one I live at the club.

“For me it is very easy to switch off, especially with three young boys so my family has been really important me this year. Even when things are going good it’s easy to switch off with them.

“Obviously it was a big move (coming home) and it (pressure) will always stick with me but I am absolutely loving my time at West Coast. I’m determined – as are a lot of other leaders – to do everything to help this group move forward and help this club get back to winning games and playing very good footy.

“It has been a tough year. One of my biggest strengths is leading by action and that happens on game day. For me the best way I can help these boys is to not only talk about it but go out and show them. That’s the best way I can lead the younger boys.

“Win, lose or draw you’re always trying to play the best football you can. Winning is everything. When you play well, and you lose it doesn’t mean as much.”