Geelong coach Chris Scott is optimistic about the Cats’ chances of signing star midfielder Tim Kelly to a new AFL contract beyond this season.
Kelly, who is out of contract at the end of the year, was a revelation in his stunning debut season and has taken his game to another level to be installed as bookmakers favourite for the 2019 Brownlow Medal.
Citing family reasons, Kelly requested a trade to West Coast last year and it has been widely expected he will attempt to take his young family home to Perth again at the end of this campaign.
Scott doesn’t know for certain where Kelly sees his football future, but he told reporters on Wednesday that the signs are positive he will remain in Geelong.
“If you separate the footy side, which has never been in doubt – he’s having the time of his life on the footy field and is playing accordingly,” Scott said.
“But his family life, according to him and he’s said it publicly, is much better than it was.
“I think that has less to do with where he’s living and more to do with the fact that his twins are a year older.
“They can be a handful, young kids, for anyone … much less having moved across the country and playing AFL footy every week with all of the difficulties that entails.
“If Tim’s happiness is the measure then I think it’s all on track.”
Scott said that the club would like to know Kelly’s intentions sooner rather than later.
But he conceded the list management team will continue to plan for the player movement period with multiple scenarios in play.
Despite growing confidence the 24-year-old will stay, Scott said it would be naive not to think about the possibility of another trade request.
“You have to … (but) I think the club is in a very, very, very strong position – almost couldn’t be much stronger really,” he said.
“I think about it, but I think a lot more about what it would be like having Tim on our list for the next six to eight years or however long his career goes for because that makes me feel a lot more happy.”
The ladder-leading Cats take on the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, with superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield (hip) likely to play.
User
Roar Rookie
A bit stronger than that but roundabout, it's understandable imo that it would get a strong reaction man, I was probably just as strong in opinion when juddy left and bec did an interview about how much better Melbourne and the ppl were than WA. Other than that we're only stirring?
Cat
Roar Guru
Not by me it wasn't. Guarantee it. Most I would have said is she is the reason he asked for the trade. She is the one who needs extra support (despite getting as much as Geelong is able to give without violating the salary cap).
User
Roar Rookie
Nah it was said, just not a priority in my life to hunt around online and if Pete wants it he can look through the archives as he had enough roundabout info to see for himself.
Cat
Roar Guru
Even harder to find something that was never said.
User
Roar Rookie
Nah means if you would like to see then you can go back and find it from around the end of trade period last year, I personally have better things to do, I do seem to recall it was part of Josh's as per usual excellent trade coverage so there you you go my sweet little guy that should enable you to go and find out.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Yes....called out to quote usually evokes this response...
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I could tell you Yattz but am too much of a gentleman.
Dan
Roar Rookie
Was he 'discovered' or 'stolen'? You're all over the shop
Jason
Roar Rookie
Utter garbage shane. West coast were going to draft Kelly with their second pick after Oscar Allen. But Jarrod Brander was still there and the Eagles were astounded and pounced on him. They then took Allen, rolling the dice that Kelly would still be there ( that is why they traded for the extra second round draft picks, also it was well known that Kelly had a young family and didn't want to leave the state ) Enter the pussycats. After a great season with the cats he requested a trade to the Eagles. The Eagles offered their first two picks plus their 2019 second. Pussycats were never going to trade no matter what and forced Kelly to stay, punishing his young family. The cats have been disgraceful but fortunately for them, the Eagles have always been more than fair when trading and will offer the pussycats something for him.
Jason
Roar Rookie
Cheaper ????? I don't think so .
HedleyLamarr
Roar Rookie
"If you think a top five pick is worth some mid second round pick, that is a massive fail" I didn't say that at all! WC had two opportunities to pick him up and didn't. 14 clubs had the chance to pick Kelly up, some with multiple picks, and didn't. I'm simply presuming that WC hoped that he would slide to pick 26 in the draft but the Cats beat them to it. It was a gamble, not only for WC, but 14 other clubs if you want to deal in hindsight.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Players should always be prepared to stay at their existing club for 80% of their market value, they would lose half of any extra in tax anyway. Hopefully Kelly's young family is getting the support that they need and that he will stay with Geelong. I sometimes wonder if clubs get caught up in a bidding war to keep their players then they should get some salary cap compensation. An example would be if a player was on $600k and they were offered $1m to go elsewhere then the original club has its cap increased by ($1m - $600k)/2 for the length of the new contract.
Shane
Guest
This. Keep hearing it written that they were going to pick him. If you think a top five pick is worth some mid second round pick, that is a massive fail. Woulda coulda shoulda. They didn't rate him no matter what people are trying to say in hindsight.
Shane
Guest
Silly argument. Geelong were going to pick Chris Judd too. West Coast didn't rate him as a useful addition to their midfield. It's clear he would have been far more useful to your flag chances than any future KPFs. West Coast stuffed up and then tried to undermine the draft contract in desperation. Anything else you guys are saying is just post hoc dressing.
Shane
Guest
Also, that is just your take that West Coast were going to pick him. We only heard that afterwards. What we do know from his manager is they started sniffing around early in his contract last year with Geelong.
Scott
Guest
That trade actually gets even better then that. West Coast then traded gold coasts pick last year for a 2 spot downgrade and Sydney’s 2nd rounder this year. That means they’ll have got 5 x 2nd round picks for nothing. With the father sons and academy players taken last year west coasts 1st rounder they originally traded turned out being pick 22. Oscar Allen was pick 21 the year before. Last years 2nd rounder was used on Luke Foley who I don’t have much faith in, but a few picks later they got Bailey Williams. As Foley was taken way earlier then expected, it’s fair to say they would’ve missed out on Williams. Williams looks like he could be a star and Ryan, Petrucelle and Oscar Allen, for mine, are guaranteed to be top quality. They will likely get another pick in the 20s this year as part of that deal as well. It is shaping up to be one of the greatest trades of all time
Nolzie
Roar Rookie
And you're just making things up. Fact. It is well known that WC were going to draft Kelly. Kelly had trained with WC in the lead up to the draft. Sure they missed out, didn't go as early as the Cats did. That's the way the cookie crumbles and the Cat's will reap the benefits of either a great player or draft picks. Firstly no one knows what any clubs salary cap looks like, secondly the fact that WC are still looking at both Kelly and Cogs suggests that cap space isn't an issue. Everyone stuffed up on Kelly. He nominated for the NATIONAL DRAFT every club passed on him..
User
Roar Rookie
Nothing really, Finnish black metal from early 90s, it's a long story man
Boo
Guest
Kelly might cost too much.Apparently his rise from contract to contract will be the biggest ever.Which ever club gets him for next year is going to have to shed some talented players including Geelong.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
What does 6x6 mean?