GWS midfielder Josh Kelly details a hip injury battle and major surgery that nearly pushed him toward retirement.
A hip injury that left Josh Kelly questioning whether his career was over has now started to shift into a recovery that feels like a new beginning.
Misryoum reports the GWS Giants midfielder has been managing a painful hip issue since the end of 2022. with the problem reaching moments so severe that he struggled with everyday tasks like tying his shoelaces.. Kelly. 31. said the exhaustion from playing through the pain eventually tipped into a belief that he may have played his last game.
That turning point came during a match in Canberra last year against the Western Bulldogs, when his condition flared and his performance was heavily affected. Kelly admitted the feeling was difficult to shake because, when the game mattered most, he believed he had nothing left to give.
The club’s broader finals history only sharpened those doubts. Kelly has been part of a lengthy stretch of September heartbreak, including losses that kept a premiership out of reach, and those repeated disappointments sit heavily alongside the physical toll he’s been carrying.
For Kelly, the answer was major surgery rather than simply pushing through.. He described the procedure as “Andy Murray surgery” after the approach used by the tennis star. involving resurfacing work that targeted issues including bone spurs and the top layer of the femur. followed by additional support and joint relining.
Insight: This kind of recovery is as much psychological as it is physical, because when an athlete starts to fear they cannot perform at the highest level, it changes how every training session feels.
Now the focus is on rehab, with Kelly hoping to begin running again in June. While he expects progress, he also indicated he may still miss the 2026 season as a precaution, acknowledging there are no easy guarantees when a hip problem has disrupted years of form and movement.
The midfielder’s message, however, is cautiously optimistic. He says the hip pain is gone and that the remaining stiffness is something he can manage as he starts again, with a plan aimed at returning next year.
Insight: For GWS, Kelly’s recovery timeline will matter not only for his personal comeback, but also for how the Giants shape their midfield identity in a campaign where experience and durability can make the difference.