Three-time premiership winning Cat James Kelly is set for a Kardinia Park homecoming with reports stating that the 37-year-old will fill one of several assistant coaching voids at Geelong in 2022.
In a tweet sent on Monday afternoon, SEN's Sam Edmund stated that the 273-game midfielder is set to rejoin the club that drafted him ahead of the 2002 season in a deputy role underneath head coach Chris Scott.
Geelong have since confirmed Kelly's hiring by way of an official statement in the hours following Edmund's tweet.
Within said announcement, the ex-Cat explained that he was overjoyed to call the Pivot City home again.
“I’m excited to come back to the club, to a place I love and be able to contribute as a member of the coaching staff,” Kelly said.
“It is a club that means a lot to me, and I have always kept my eye across what’s been happening. This is a great opportunity and I want to positively influence and impact the club and help us achieve success.”
Geelong's general manager of football Simon Lloyd echoed Kelly's excitement and also heaped praise on the returning club icon.
“James has great football intelligence, has experience as a member of Essendon’s coaching staff and has a demonstrated ability as a strong communicator,” Lloyd said.
“James also brings a great love of the club and so brings additional passion to the role. We welcome James back to his football home and look forward to his insights and contribution to the club.”
Since departing Geelong at the cessation of 2015, Kelly went on to make a further 40 appearances across two campaigns with the Bombers before taking up a coaching role with the Tullamarine club that ran between 2018 and February of this year.
As stated by Edmund, the one-time All Australian stepped down from his stewardship position with Essendon due to family reasons, but with the Cats in need of experience in the coaching box next year, Kelly has answered the calls from his former home.
Since bowing out to eventual premiers Melbourne in the preliminary final earlier this month, Geelong have parted company with former CEO Brian Cook, who has since joined Carlton in the same capacity, whilst also losing Corey Enright (St Kilda), Matthew Knights (West Coast) and Matthew Scarlett from their respective mentoring posts.
RELATED: Geelong assistant the latest to leave Kardinia Park
Though Kelly was tasked with aiding Essendon's stoppages during his time working with John Worsfold and Ben Rutten, it is yet to be determined whether he will manage the same portfolio upon recommencing his time with Scott and the hoops.