Giants’ money man
GWS confident when it comes to Kelly bids
OFFERS for young gun Josh Kelly just keep coming and getting bigger but the Giants are confident they can hang on to their rising superstar for at least another two years.
GWS have told Kelly and his management the reason clubs like North Melbourne, St Kilda and Carlton are stumping up big bucks is because that’s their only option to get him to walk away from success.
The Giants have the bye this week and CEO David Matthews met Kelly and his management on Monday to restate their position.
“The clubs chasing Josh are prepared to pay a premium because that’s what it will take to leave the opportunity in front of him at GWS,” Matthews said.
“Our offer is very strong, every other offer will pay a premium to get Josh away from the Giants. I’m confident Josh is clear about the opportunity in front of him. We have a great culture and a very good playing list.”
Matthews knows there will never be a better team assembled than the Giants have at their disposal, unless there is another expansion team.
They are well placed in second spot with a 9-3 record despite an injury list which most clubs could build a successful team around.
“In Josh’s career ahead, no team is going to be able to put a team around him like this,” Matthews said.
Matthews warned a nineyear commitment was a double-edged sword – the money and security would be great but there would be little guarantee of success at the clubs chasing Kelly.
I’M CONFIDENT JOSH IS CLEAR ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF HIM ... DAVID MATTHEWS
None of his three suitors are setting the world on fire – St Kilda are 12th, North 15th and Carlton 16th.
If he takes the nine-year deal, he will be 31 when it finishes. In that time, his deal would have outlasted two collective bargaining agreements, which could leave him short-changed. In two years he will be a restricted free agent. He would have to request a trade to a preferred club and they would need to satisfy the Giants with a decent return package. Kelly is the latest Giant to be courted by Melbourne clubs.