LET THE KELLY BIDS BEGIN
TIM Kelly says he has no issues with Geelong demanding significant compensation from West Coast as he attempts to secure his move home.
The Cats will meet West Coast face-toface today at the opening of the AFL’s trade period and will again reiterate to the Eagles their minimum requirements to part with Kelly.
The Geelong Advertiser understands the Cats’ likely starting point will be two first-round draft picks — with at least one coming inside the top 10 — for Kelly.
The 25-year-old, who is out of contract, arrived back in Perth at the weekend and will now sweat on a deal being done between the two clubs over the next 10 days.
Geelong and West Coast have already held preliminary talks, but there is no indication that a deal will be completed early in the trade period.
Kelly said he understood Geelong’s position of wanting to maximise its return in his trade to leave Kardinia Park.
“(The Cats are losing an) important player. They have every right to expect a good trade. Fingers crossed it gets done,” Kelly said.
Kelly officially told the club last Wednesday he wanted to return to Perth for family reasons, announcing West Coast as his team of preference.
He did the same at the end of the 2018 season, but the two clubs could not agree on a deal.
The Eagles currently do not have the cache of draft picks to satisfy the Cats, holding just pick 14 in the first round this year.
Fremantle, however, could be in a better position to do a deal, with pick seven already in its hands.
The Dockers could also secure pick six from St Kilda if, as expected, Brad Hill leaves for the Saints.
Kelly said his preference was to play for West Coast, but had not turned his back on the Dockers.
“It’s been pretty tough. It hasn’t been something I’ve taken lightly, that’s for sure,” he told Channel 9 in Perth of his decision to leave Geelong.
“I’ve got absolutely no issues with the club (Fremantle). I think that’s been pretty consistent from the get-go.
“I think most people have a preference these days. West Coast is mine.”
The Eagles would have arguably the best midfield in the competition if they were to secure Kelly, who would join the likes of Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff, Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed in the middle.
Shuey, who won his second John Worsfold Medal on Saturday, said he hoped Kelly would be at the club in 2020.
“Fingers, toes are crossed. I told my missus to cross her fingers and toes as well,” Shuey joked. “He’s an amazing player. To do what he has done in his first two years of football is pretty special. I thought he was going to come last year and it didn’t happen, so I won’t hold my breath this year, but we will see what happens.”
Shuey said Kelly would complement the talent already in the Eagles’ midfield.
“He complements any midfield, doesn’t he? He kicks goals, he wins clearances and he is one of those players that when he gets the ball, he runs 10, 15, 20m and gets it into your forward half,” Shuey said.
“You look at the impact he has had at Geelong over the last few years and they’ve got some pretty special players there. Obviously Joel (Selwood), what he has done over his career, Patty Dangerfield, (Gary) Ablett. But arguably Tim Kelly was their best player this year.”