AFL Trades: Geelong and West Coast agree on trade deal for Tim Kelly
Tim Kelly says his partner Caitlin cried “tears of joy” after the trade he’d been waiting 18 months for was made official on Wednesday. Here’s what the Cats received.
Geelong
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Tim Kelly’s partner Caitlin cried “tears of joy” after the star onballer’s return to Western Australia was sealed on Wednesday.
In the first deal of this year’s trade period, Kelly was granted his wish to return to the Eagles as Geelong gained picks 14, 24 and 33 and a future first-round draft pick.
Kelly has signed a monster six-year deal with the Eagles that is likely to make him an Eagle until he retires.
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“12 months ago I suppose, when he missed out on the trade, it was always going to be this way,” his manager Anthony van der Wielen told Trade Radio.
Geelong sent two third-round picks to West Coast, while Essendon was involved to sweeten the exchange.
Kelly said his family, who had hoped to return to WA for much of their time in Geelong, was relieved the trade had been finalised.
“(Caitlin feels) like a weight has been taken off her shoulders,” Kelly said.
“Thrilled. Rapt. She can’t wait to get our boys in their West Coast gear.”
Tim Kelly has a message for YOU, Eagles fans! pic.twitter.com/HlBLILihZj
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) October 9, 2019
Kelly’s trade request was motivated by a desire to be closer to family.
“Two of my three boys are autistic. As you can imagine, managing that on the other side of the country with no family support, it’s pretty tough,” he said.
“Having family around means there’s less pressure on me and my family.”
Kelly said he was happy Geelong, which drafted him with pick 24 two years ago, had been compensated for his loss.
“I think it’s a win-win for both clubs,” he said.
“(Geelong’s) a great club, I loved my time there and nobody wanted them to be well compensated more than me. I’m thrilled with what Geelong get out of it.”
The deal should unlock Geelong's pursuit of four-time St Kilda best-and-fairest winner Jack Steven.
Kelly has been a mature-age revelation in his two years in Geelong, finishing runner-up in the club best-and-fairest twice and top five in this year’s Brownlow Medal count.
Essendon’s involvement in the deal was swapping third and fourth-round draft picks.
The Herald Sun revealed on September 2 Kelly would request a trade home for family reasons.
The gun midfielder asked for a trade last year, but West Coast was not prepared to pay Geelong’s asking price of pick 20, 23 and a swap of future picks.
The deal will deliver Geelong a whopping 3093 draft points — more than the 3000 points allocated to pick 1.
That is based on the Eagles finishing second on the ladder next season. West Coast is currently second-favourite with TAB for the 2020 premiership.
“Once we determined that Tim would not recommit to our club and was set on returning to Western Australia we set about securing the best deal for the club,” Geelong’s recruiting and list manager Stephen Wells said.
“The selections we have secured will give us the best opportunity to add high-end talent to our list in the upcoming national draft.
“We thank Tim for his two years with us and wish him well in the future, both in his football career and his family. Tim was obviously an exceptional player for us, but we are excited by the possibilities the draft picks we have secured offer us.”
West Coast’s decision to baulk on a Kelly swap last year has cost them a small fortune in draft picks but deliver the league’s most talented midfield.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir and football boss Peter Bell both met with Kelly’s manager Anthony Van Der Wielen last week, but the Dockers were never really in the race for Kelly.
“I live in Fremantle. I work in Fremantle and I am involved with the South Fremantle Football Club. I certainly haven’t got anything against Fremantle myself and neither did Tim. But it just wasn’t the best option for him and his family,” Van Der Wielen said.
He told the Herald Sun last night Kelly wanted to ensure Geelong was well compensated.
“It is pretty close, we are just waiting for a deal to get done.
“Tim is a bit nervous because it’s not done until it’s done but he’s pretty comfortable with where it’s at.
“Tim will be quite happy Geelong are going to be rewarded. Tim wants Geelong to pick up 200-game players out of the picks they get and he can feel part of their resurgence. He hasn’t left them in the lurch. He has nothing against the Geelong footy club.”
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The Kelly camp was adamant a deal should be brokered that was fair to both parties without Kelly having to threaten to enter the pre-season draft.
The Eagles are second-favourite to win next year’s flag and, with Kelly in the fold, could have the best midfield in the competition.
If Adam Simpson’s men finish second next year (as per the TAB betting market) they will likely hand over pick 17 overall to the Cats to cap off the Kelly package.
Last year Chris Scott went to bed at a Harvard course believing Kelly would leave for picks 20, 23 and a swap of the club’s third-round 2019 selection for the Eagles’ 2019 second-round pick.
West Coast were not prepared to pay that price and now after a year that saw Kelly peel off 24 Brownlow votes and finish second in the AFL MVP award the price will be dearer.
West Coast’s midfield will boast elite ruckman Nic Naitanui, two ball hunters in Kelly and Luke Shuey, a defensive mid in Elliot Yeo, a Grand Final hero in Dom Sheed and arguably the AFL’s best wingman in Andrew Gaff.
And the Cats will not only strengthen their draft hand, they will secure a later pick that should see them acquire four-time best-and-fairest winner Jack Steven from St Kilda.
St Kilda had suggested it would not give Steven away for nothing given he was in better physical and mental shape after a season-long battle with mental illness.
Geelong only wants draft picks from West Coast, believing it can secure significant improvement from young midfielders including Lachie Fogarty, Brandon Parfitt, Quinton Narkle, Charlie Constable and Nakia Cockatoo.
Originally published as AFL Trades: Geelong and West Coast agree on trade deal for Tim Kelly