The Legend continues: VPL2 Players’ Player of the Year and club captain Graham Kelly re-signs for 2025 season

Essendon Royals are pleased to announce the return of club captain Graham Kelly for the 2025 season.

The Irishman played a key role in securing a fourth place finish for the Royals in 2024 – the highest since their promotion to the third tier in Victorian football.

Kelly was ultimately recognised by his peers as the VPL2 Players’ Player of the Year after yet another brilliant campaign, where he scored eight league goals.

Kelly also took home the top gong at the Royals’ Senior Awards night when he won the Player of the Year award.

Next year will be Kelly’s seventh season at the club, having arrived at Cross Keys after an extensive career playing in Europe for the likes of Derby County, Bray Wanderers and St Patrick’s Athletic.

Since arriving, Kelly has not only shone on the field as a player, but as a role model for the players inside the Royals locker-room who have had the privilege of learning from one of the most skilled technicians to play for Essendon in recent time.

He also now has 46 league goals to his name since arriving at Cross Keys.

More signing and re-signing announcements will be made in the coming days.