The Tim Kelly fiasco is going to be the biggest talking point of this trade period, with the West Australian requesting a trade back to his home state for the second straight year.
Geelong are asking for West Coast to sell the farm to get their man. The Eagles currently have picks 14 and 24 (take into consideration Gold Coast’s priority pick), and they will be wanting to on-sell that to the Cats for Kelly. However, as Geelong have stated, those picks are simply unacceptable for the midfielder.
There have been rumblings that Carlton could be an ally for the Eagles in this trade period. There are rumours circulating that Carlton are in the mix for a big fish this trade period after Tom Papley and Jack Martin requested trades to the Blues. Eddie Betts is also expected to return home to Ikon Park, where he became a cult hero for eight years before famously falling out with then-coach Mick Malthouse and heading to the Crows for six years.
That big fish I am hearing Carlton could be looking at is Eagles midfielder Andrew Gaff. Gaff is an interesting tale after re-signing with the Eagles after declining North Melbourne’s godfather offer last year. The Herald Sun reported a week ago that Gaff has an exit clause that makes him eligible for free agency again if he chooses to utilise it – and this time would be as an unrestricted free agent.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
West Coast firmly believe they can retain the 27-year-old midfielder as well as collecting the 25-year-old Cat who wants to be an Eagle. However, the Eagles might have to look at the bigger picture from a salary cap perspective. You may not be able to have both men on the same list unless you get some of our senior bodies to take significant pay cuts, and even then you’ll be tipping on the edge of the cap when you bring in young talent in the draft.
Where does this leave Carlton though? Carlton will part with pick nine for Papley and potentially a future second-round pick and another pick to get Jack Martin from the Suns?
Losing next year’s first-round pick won’t be the end of the world for a team who went through a significant rebuild in the last four years, and won’t need to urgently go to the draft again for some more young players. They’ve got a decent crop of youngsters to build upon under new senior coach David Teague.
Sitting out of the draft for two years with this year’s not as strong as previous seasons – and with people saying the class of 2020 could also be a shallow draft – will pay dividends for the Blues, who are screaming for some extra grunt in the midfield next to Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Zac Fisher.
They would love to have another experienced body in there like Andrew Gaff.
The trade period begins this week, and the ‘what if’ scenarios will be thrown up, so it’ll be interesting to see how this one pans out between now and October 16.
And if this is the icebreaker that gets Tim Kelly to the Eagles, they may have to lose Gaff to challenge for a flag again in 2020.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If players have less say, that is less professional. AFL is arguably best practice in administration and player equity. Very happy for us not to follow the model of EuroSoccer or US sport.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He didn't.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The Herald Sun....????
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I suspect what Michael is "hearing" is the imagination of the footy gossip columnists, not the reality. Gaff has no interest in leaving WC.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Brad Hill is certainly not one of them. They were each others' greatest fans. No way Freo will part with 6 and 7 for a 25yo. It's not as if he is Sunny Walters or Stephen Hill.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Admiral Ackbar
Guest
If Freo gets pick #6 for Brad Hill then they could offer the Cats pick #6 AND pick #7. That's light years ahead of what the E-Girls have to barter with. The only way Tim Kelly is not going to become a Docker is if Brad Hill re-signs with Freo (quite possible, I'll bet a lot of players would rather play under Justin Longmuir than Ross Lyon).
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I think it would look bad for the Cats if the Eagles offered a pick in the top 10 and their first round pick for 2020 and this wasn't accepted. If they don't make at least this offer the Cats can't be blamed for not dealing with West Coast. The alternative would then be to do a deal with the Dockers and if Kelly isn't happy with that he can either retire or go into the draft where he would most likely be selected by Fremantle before West Coast gets their pick and I don't believe a non-WA club would select him. The problem for West Coast is to generate a pick in the first 10 in the first place not knowing whether Geelong would accept the deal. The longer this saga goes on, the more likely Kelly will finish with Fremantle. West Coast won't come out of this well unless they at least make the offer I have outlined.
Davis
Guest
Except WC could go to St Kilda and say we will give you 14 + future 1st that geelong won't take for your pick 6
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
He'd go into the pre season draft which has completely different rules it abides by.
Lukey Miller
Guest
I get the feeling that if Kelly does go into the draft then he will be gone by the time Fremantle have their first pick, but that he will be playing for West Coast in 2020. West Coast have had all year to plan for this and it has been abundantly clear that Geelong would always make it impossible for The Eagles, regardless of Kelly's needs or wishes. The only sure thing is that Tim Kelly will not be playing for The Cats again, contrary to what some might be hoping for. This could get very ugly for Geelong.
shifty
Roar Rookie
the latest that I've read says that there isn't a meeting scheduled between JL and TK
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
The west Australian reported that 4months ago I think it was, it's old news about the clause in gaffy contract, put in there in case his father's health problems continued, they are fine in gaffs words he's staying at wce for quite awhile.
Raimond
Roar Guru
That's what happens when you enter the draft -- that's the whole point.
Russ
Guest
Peter Bell is less optmistic, the deal with the Eagles will get done with the Eagles first round this year and the next. Players get what they want nowadays I personally think this sport lacks professionalism - players should be traded to benefit the club who has picked and developed them.
Scott
Guest
I’m a bit confused, is the suggestion that west coast will trade a contracted player in his prime who averages 32 disposals a game, to satisfy only half of the deal, to get an uncontracted player who has nominated them as his club of choice? If Gaff is traded it will be a straight swap. Carlton would need to satisfy Geelongs demands for Kelly. Eagles would be keeping all their draft picks.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Two mid first round draft picks which is what Essendon paid for Shiel and Kelly is better than Shiel. I think something less than that should get the deal done for West Coast given Kelly's circumstances, mid first round plus late first round -- the latter being the Eagle's 2020 first round draft pick. How do the Eagles generate a mid first round draft pick? I don't expect it to be an auction to the highest bidder between the Eagles and the Dockers, I am sure the Dockers would pay market value.
Nolzie
Roar Rookie
What do you consider to be fair compensation for Kelly, Aransan?
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate if you keep abreast of all that is being said you might actually get what is happening. If you want your clubs business done in a backroom shady way then wow, bell is smart and understands such tactics never pay off and ultimately tarnish a clubs reputation making other sides alot less forthcoming in future deals. This is billion dollar industry mate not some dodgy back yard mechanic shop.
Jack A
Guest
I can’t see WC letting Gaff go as an unrestricted free agent and I can’t see Gaff doing that to the club either - unless both parties agreed that it was in both of their best interests. WC would get significantly more than a compensation pick by trading Gaff. Unless something has changed recently on the home front for Gaff (a few months ago he said that his Dad was doing really well) I think Gaff would want to stay at WC in the hope that Kelly will soon join them - he wants to win a flag. In saying that, Teague was an assistant coach at WC and they have a relationship.