Cats right to be firm on Kelly dealings
THERE will be a bit more tussling for hearts and minds before the battle for Tim Kelly is complete.
There is some conjecture that the Cats and Cats fans are being hypocrites opposing a westward move for the 24-year-old without a decent trade-off because of the homecomings of Dangerfield and Ablett.
But that’s just noise from the peanut gallery — full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.
Kelly is a breakout talent with a level of intuition in his game that is a thing of beauty to watch.
If he’s hellbent on returning with his young family to the west then that is inevitably what will happen.
But the Cats are well within their rights to play hardball in these negotiations.
Every punter has a theory about why the Cats aren’t quite clicking, with a playing list that on game days is too often less than the sum of its parts. One compelling theory is that the culture is too relaxed and comfortable — that the vaunted and worthy “character principle” of the club can impede the cut-throat intensity needed for victory.
Flag-winning teams have terrifying speed and hunger, not just grace and camaraderie. Their coaching staffs stare defeat in the face and learn from it rather than parsing their words.
It would be heartening to many fans to see the Cats stop being the nice guys who make finals and then bomb out.
You can have sympathy for Tim Kelly’s family situation — three young kids with extended family only on the other side of the continent — and still want the Cats to drive a hard bargain.
Kelly had been overlooked in six drafts before the Cats took a punt on him. If he goes it should only be for a very good concession from the Eagles. If not, he stays.
That would be the fair result. That would be the smart result.
And it would be the strategy of a club bitterly aware that ultimate victory requires tough calls and more than doing “pretty well”.