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UPDATE: Josh Kelly puts pen to paper with Giants

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30th April, 2019
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The lure of returning to Victoria will always loom large for Josh Kelly but the gun midfielder can see his long-term future at GWS after signing a two-year AFL contract extension.

Kelly will be with the Giants until at least the end of the 2021 season, at which point he’ll be eligible for free agency and will receive yet more offers from cashed-up rival clubs.

However, the superstar’s manager and GWS have already got the ball rolling on a lucrative follow-up deal to what was announced on Wednesday.

“It’s a great initiative by my manager and the club to have a look at those things,” Kelly said of the long-term options floated by the Giants, insisting he hadn’t thought about free agency.

“I’m super excited for what is to happen over the next couple of years and my future going forward after that.

“We have a great culture, a great group of boys, great coaching staff and the ability to hopefully win a premiership.”

Asked if he will be a Giants player for life, the silky on-baller stopped short of being unequivocal but noted: “I can definitely see my future up at the Giants”.

GWS will now turn their attention to contract talks with foundation player Stephen Coniglio, the in-demand restricted free agent who captained the club in their last-start derby win at the SCG.

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A foundation player with the Giants, Coniglio, like Kelly, hasn’t let the contract speculation affect his impressive form.

“I won’t be jumping on his back and forcing him to make a decision there or anything,” Kelly said.

“Having dealt from experience, it’s not something you need heaps of people coming up and chatting to you about.

“I hope me signing on can have an impact on that but he’s playing some pretty good footy and he’s taking care of business.

GWS fended off significant interest from rival clubs – including a nine-year, $10 million offer from North Melbourne – to re-sign Kelly on a two-year deal during the 2017 finals.

This time around, Kelly made a call far earlier in the year.

“I’m a bit of an over-thinker at times and I tend to over-analyse situations … it’s a bit of weight off my shoulders,” the 24-year-old told reporters on Wednesday.

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“I’m not going to lie, it was a tough decision.

“The opportunity to move back and be close to family and play in Victoria is always there.

“I love the club here and I feel like I’ve got something really special.”

An All-Australian and club best-and-fairest winner in 2017, Kelly joins Jacob Hopper, Matt de Boer, Adam Kennedy, Harry Himmelberg, Brent Daniels and Nick Haynes in signing new deals with the Giants this year.

The vice-captain, who missed the Giants’ first two matches this year after undergoing hip and knee surgery over the off-season, has averaged 28.5 possessions, six clearances and 5.5 tackles this season.

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