Cats to play hardball in Kelly trade talks
GEELONG’S approach to the Tim Kelly situation will be clear-cut.
Unless the Cats receive a top-10 draft pick as a minimum in exchange for the midfielder, they will attempt to keep him next season.
As much as Kelly, 24, wants to return home to Western Australia so his partner and three young children can be closer to family, Geelong will only do the deal if it can secure a commensurate swap for the brilliant ballwinner.
And when the Cats meet Fremantle and West Coast officials today to begin trade talks about the future of the mature-age revelation, that will be the message.
It’s a pick inside the top-10, or Kelly will be held to his con- tract for next year.
That’s how highly coach Chris Scott rates Kelly, who was runner-up by half a vote to Mark Blicavs in the club’s best and fairest award last week.
Andrew Gaff’s decision to stay at West Coast will make it tougher for the Eagles to satisfy the Cats as they prioritise a ruck replacement for Scott Lycett.
The Eagles have picks No.19 and No.20 (Lycett compensation) and may have to bundle them in a swap to secure No.10 from North Melbourne to satisfy the Cats.
Geelong may also inquire about 195cm key forward Jarrod Brander, who was taken with pick No.13 last year and played one AFL game. But it will have to be Brander and a decent draft pick, rather than a straight swap for Kelly.
Gaff’s decision is a boost for Fremantle. The Dockers are tipped to lose Lachie Neale to Brisbane and will have picks No.4 and No.5 to pursue Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan and Kelly.
But the Demons will press for both picks for Hogan, potentially tying the Dockers’ hands on Kelly.
This is somewhat new territory for the Cats, who have received few trade requests in the past.
Ruckman Shane Mumford received a deal to go to Sydney in 2009, Gary Ablett walked to the Suns for a truckload more money in 2010 and captain Leigh Colbert sensationally departed for North Melbourne in 1999.
There is an awkward background to Kelly’s situation because he loves playing for Geelong, and has flourished in his debut season.
But the reality is Kelly’s partner, Caitlin Miller, is homesick.
Miller said mid-season she was struggling in Geelong because, “I have no family or friends here”.
“It’s boring for me,” she said on social media.
“Our family are super tight and back home we all lived in the same neighbourhood. I could just walk to see them all.
“It’s very hard but I’m not unhappy, just miss them.”