Cheers, not jeers for exiting Kelly
IF the reaction from last night’s best-and-fairest count is anything to go by, Tim Kelly will leave Geelong a loved man.
The wantaway midfielder fronted the fans for the first time since he requested a trade back to Western Australia on Wednesday at the club’s Carji Greeves Medal count.
Kelly put the full stop at the end of his 2019 season — and most likely his Geelong career — with a second runner-up finish in as many years at Crown last night.
You could have forgiven Kelly for being nervous as he walked to the Palladium with partner Caitlin Miller next to him.
While last year he waited until the day after Geelong’s vote count to ask the club for a trade, this time the news was broken before.
Would the Cats fans hold a grudge? Or would they understand that it’s family reasons — and nothing else — behind his desire to play for West Coast in 2020.
Kelly was cheered when he walked up on stage when his runner-up position was confirmed.
But Geelong fans didn’t get a chance to hear from a player that so quickly became one of their heroes.
When finishing second last season, Kelly spoke on stage as fans pleaded with him to stay.
It was slightly awkward, but it would have reinforced to Kelly that he was wanted.
Last night he was happy to stand in the shadows behind winner Patrick Dangerfield and third-placed Tom Stewart.
He also declined to talk to media on arrival, with Kelly and Miller heading straight to the players’ pre-function room.
Instead it was left to Dangerfield to praise Kelly’s season in his winner’s press conference.
“Magical second season, quite extraordinary. Two years in the AFL system, runner-up two times and he could have easily been standing here (as a winner), he had a wonderful season,” Dangerfield said.
“It’s quite extraordinary what he has been able to do. It’s a credit to himself and his family. The request last year, to come back and then to apply himself the way that he has … it speaks volumes to the person that he is.”
But the interesting stuff now starts now. Everyone knows that Kelly wants to return home. But his second runner-up finish will surely add even more value to his name.
Can West Coast, who has just pick 14 in its arsenal, satisfy the Cats? Or could Fremantle with pick 7 make a move?
Kelly may have burst on to the scene at Kardinia Park with a bang, and chose to fade away from the club quietly, but the trade period is about to ignite.
And Kelly is going to be front-and-centre in that contest, just like he has been at The Cattery for the past two seasons.