The Sydney Swans wish to send their deepest condolences to former captain and Club great, Paul Kelly, and his family, after the death of Paul’s father, John, this week.

John Kelly, who was 71, died in Wagga Wagga after an illness.

John played Australian Rules football for Ardlethan and then introduced Paul to the game in 1981, when he took him down to play for the Wagga Tigers Under-12 team.

Paul pays tribute to his parents in his book, ‘Swan Song - the Paul Kelly Story’, describing how his father John and mother Marj had driven he and his four sisters and brother around to all their many sporting activities for years.

John and Marj made many trips to Sydney to watch Paul during his 234-game career with the Swans, during which he was captain from 1993 to 2002.

A funeral for John will be held at St Michael’s Cathedral in Wagga Wagga on Friday.