Cats can replace star mid
GEELONG skipper Joel Selwood is confident the Cats will bounce back from the imminent departure of star Tim Kelly.
Kelly, who is out of contract, is poised to return to Western Australia after telling the Cats he wants to play for West Coast for family reasons.
His departure will leave a hole in the Cats’ engine room, but Selwood was certain Geelong would be able to find the players capable of replacing the midfielder, who finished runner-up in Geelong’s bestand-fairest for the second time in as many years.
“It is what it is,” Selwood said. “We’ve planned for it for a little bit of the year, whether it be the case that he stays or leaves.
“(It’s) disappointing, obviously, because he’s such a quality player. But I also understand what’s going to play out and we’ll be ready for whatever is next.
“We’ve had some good players leave the club before and we’ve backed up and done OK.”
The Cats are going to take a hardline stance on Kelly’s value, believed to want at least two first-round draft picks as compensation.
West Coast does not yet have the picks to satisfy the Cats, potentially opening the door for Fremantle.
Asked what Geelong should ask for Kelly, Carji Greeves Medal winner Patrick Dangerfield said, smiling: “Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and ‘Nic Nat’ (Nic Naitanui). I think that’s a good starting point. (Jeremy) McGovern is a pretty good player (too).”
Mitch Duncan, who had his left arm in a sling on Thursday night, said last week he felt the writing was on the wall.
Selwood said he would have been more shocked if Kelly had decided to stay.
“Only because it gets to the end of the year, and I think Mitch (Duncan) spoke about it earlier, that you probably know how it’s going to work out, unless you’re the Andrew Gaff case last year,” Selwood said.
“But, if you leave it that late, you probably have an understanding of what’s going to happen.”
Dangerfield said the players heard of Kelly’s trade request through the press release.
“But that being said, you sort of knew where it was going,” he said.
“He has been wonderful, a wonderful teammate, he has been wonderfully engaged throughout the season. I have a great amount of respect for what he has been able to do and for the situation he is in.”