Kelly helps ease Giants headache
McLachlan wants quicker rebuilds
AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan says he wants to help cut the length of time rebuilding clubs such as Brisbane spend in the doldrums.
The Lions received an endof-first-round priority draft pick last year and remain tied to the bottom of the ladder with only one win.
Forward Josh Schache, 19, is weighing up a move home to Victoria but McLachlan said he would be unfazed by his departure if the Lions can take advantage at the trade table.
While McLachlan believed the competition had become more even and unpredictable, he said five years was a long time to spend rebooting in the lower part of the ladder.
“I would (like to) have an improvement in the system so that teams could improve quicker,” McLachlan said.
“Brisbane are on the bottom at the moment, they have been down there for two or three years and it is a long haul for them to turn that list around and to get back competing at the top.”
McLachlan said clubs had used key departures to their advantage in recent years such as West Coast (Chris Judd) and Adelaide (Patrick Dangerfield). IN-DEMAND Giants star Josh Kelly has given the strongest indication yet he will stay at GWS beyond this season.
Kelly, 22, has been reportedly offered a $9 million nine-year contract to switch to North Melbourne.
It is the first time the star midfielder has spoken about his playing future since the deal was made public.
“I love the club,” Kelly said. “I love playing footy here and I love my teammates.
“It’s not causing an issue in my mind right now.
“This is my fourth year at the Giants and there will be a bunch of things I will take into consideration but I love it here.”
Kelly is not putting a timeline on his decision.
“Right now I’m focusing on my footy,” he said.
“It’s week to week for me. I’m feeling no pressure from the club which has been fantastic.
“I’m happy with where I’m at, the club is happy and my management is happy.
“When the time is right, it’s right and it’s not something I’m thinking about constantly.”
Kelly was again among the Giants’ best in their impressive win over West Coast in Perth on Sunday.