Trade Kelly at his peak

Manager: more to lose if star Cat walks out next year

TIM Kelly’s manager says his star will walk out on Geelong in 12 months if he is not traded by next Wednesday, urging the Cats to cash in on his current sky-high value.

Anthony van der Wielen said yesterday there was no prospect of Kelly staying at the Cats past next year, adamant West Coast was the only WAbased club he would play for.

News Corp understands West Coast have put a fiveyear deal to the young Cats flyer, making clear to him they have cap space despite the retention of Andrew Gaff.

Geelong list manager Stephen Wells said yesterday the Cats expected Kelly to remain at the Cats next year unless a blockbuster deal could be arranged.

But van der Wielen said last night any plans the Cats had to convince Kelly he would remain long-term were futile.

“He is not going to Fremantle. I have had players there and I don’t think they are an attractive proposition for him. He will go to West Coast and if he doesn’t he will be playing at Geelong then he will leave the year after,” he said.

“That’s it. We haven’t banged our fists. He went in and respectfully said ‘I have tried my hardest all year’. This is a genuine case where he needs to get home.

“Geelong have to realise if a trade is done this year he is in contract and worth a top pick. If he leaves next year and he is out of contract that slips a bit. He is in top form at the moment so now is the time when you can demand a particular pick.”

Kelly has another year on an AFL-mandated base wage plus match payments, with West Coast offering four more years on top of that season.

Geelong is adamant they will only trade him for a top-10 draft selection, which the Eagles do not currently have.

The Eagles have pick 20 and 37 and would secure another pick in the same bracket as pick 20 selection if they let Scott Lycett go to Port Adelaide. If the Eagles had two picks around 20 and 21 the points value would equate to around pick six, meaning they could trade them for a pick that would satisfy Geelong.

Fremantle are likely to be kept busy with trades for Rory Lobb and Jesse Hogan, but met with Geelong and discussed Kelly yesterday.

Van der Wielen said discussions on a trade to Fremantle would only put up unnecessary roadblocks towards a trade with West Coast.

“He is not going there. They are just not the right fit.”

Wells said yesterday the Cats were happy to play hard ball.

“We expect him to still be playing with us in 2019,” Wells said.

“His value’s increased enormously and it’s going to have to be an exceptional deal for us to even consider it.”