Kelly, one of a number of rising stars at Skilled Stadium, missed the club's memorable 2004 finals campaign after breaking his left leg in a horrific collision with West Coast's Brett Jones in round 14 at Subiaco.
The injury could not have come at a worse time for the 20-year-old, who just starting to re-capture the stellar form he showed in his debut season in 2002 following a lean 2003.
And he admits it was tough watching the club's first finals campaign since 2000 last September and not being a part of it.
"It was very tough to watch, especially after being part of the team for most of the year," he told Sportal.
"I sat down to watch the finals with a bit of a heavy heart and you do feel a bit helpless but you can't dwell on it too much."
Now Kelly has set his sights on ensuring he is part of another Geelong finals campaign in 2005.
"The group is really mature and knows we are just not going to fall into the finals automatically next year," he said.
"Everyone knows that we have to have a similar if not better season than last year."
"There is a lot of hard work and a big pre-season ahead of us and everyone is itching for round one."
And no-one more so than Kelly with the classy midfielder admitting he is sick of being on his own in the gym lifting weights - which has seen him add several kilos to his 83 kilogram frame.
"I am just starting to do some light running and a bit of leg weights but I am still three of four weeks away from getting back into full training," he said.
"It's been a bit hard just sitting and watching the boys train all the time and wanting to be out there but I will be back out there soon."
Kelly said he is a certain starter for the Cats' first official pre-season clash against the Kangaroos in Canberra in the first round of the Wizard Cup in February.
"I will be right to play all the practice matches and all the Wizard Cup matches and after Christmas I will be back training with the main group."
"The fact that it was a clean break (in his left tibia) meant I have had no problems with it since the bone healed so now it's full steam ahead."
