West Coast braces for huge trade demand from Geelong after Tim Kelly requests trade
Tim Kelly wants to join West Coast, but Geelong will demand a high price for the midfielder who finished fifth in this year’s Brownlow Medal. Could this be the deal which seals his WA return?
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West Coast is aware Geelong will ask for a massive package of picks for star midfielder Tim Kelly after the Cats flyer officially told Geelong he wanted out.
The Eagles have known for months that he would arrive, with the Herald Sun reporting on September 2 he was certain to ask for a trade.
Kelly denied that report but his decision was confirmed in the past week when his manager Anthony van der Wielen had discussions in Geelong which involved him, his partner Caitlyn and their families.
“This is not a decision that Tim has taken lightly,” van der Wielen said.
“I know he is forever grateful for the opportunity Geelong have given him and he has enjoyed being able to represent the club.
“Something which I think we all agree he has done to the best of his ability over the past two seasons.
“It is well known by all that are close to Tim and his partner Caitlin that their young family are dealing with some significant challenges with two of their three children being classified as autistic.
“Tim and his family need to be at home surrounded by family and friends who can best assist them with therapy and support.
“After careful consideration Tim and Caitlin believe that West Coast can best provide the right environment for him and his family to prosper.”
🔒 Tim Kelly wants to be an Eagle...again. @RalphyHeraldSun with more: https://t.co/nflXX3XGXh#AFLTrade pic.twitter.com/ZhDCiVRUGw
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) October 2, 2019
Geelong was told on Wednesday and confirmed his request, saying in a statement his preference was to play for West Coast.
The 25-year-old has been offered a contract of around $800,000 a season on a deal that could extend to six years.
Geelong is likely to push a hard line, not only because of his star power, but because premiership contender West Coast will only be strengthened by his presence.
West Coast is prepared to be fair in negotiations and has selections 14, 24, 33 and 61.
It believes a suite of those picks will be suitable for the Cats, even if Geelong coach Chris Scott joked recently Kelly was worth four first-rounders and Dustin Martin.
The Eagles could attempt to trade picks 24 and 33 with a club that needed to secure draft points for father-sons and academy selections, turning it into a pick at around No. 11.
ðŸ”| EXCLUSIVE
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 3, 2019
Tim Kelly has made up his mind on whether to stay at Geelong in 2020, reports @RalphyHeraldSun: https://t.co/R3El5EE3SN pic.twitter.com/lmGEORa5dm
It believed picks 11 and 14 would be a fair price for Kelly, given most stars who change clubs do so for two first-rounders with a second-rounder coming back in the exchange.
Geelong is believed to want to secure high picks in an even draft rather than young Eagles players in exchange for a player who finished second in the MVP awards and polled 24 Brownlow votes.
But West Coast would not consider trading any contracted players if Geelong changed its tune, believing the days are gonewhen clubs shunted players in contract to satisfy rivals.
Andrew Gaff has an escape clause on his long-term contract at the end of 2020 but the Eagles believe he is content and happyto finish his career at West Coast.
Player power now means trading players against their will — as Hawthorn did with young star Ryan Burton in the Chad Wingard deal — is extremely rare and can backfire on a club.
Fremantle this week made clear they would try to broker a deal on Kelly despite him rebuffing them last year.
But as West Coast is aware, players are well within their rights to nominate a club of choice and get there as long as theeventual trade is fair for both parties.
Last year West Coast eventually blinked on a deal that would have seen them hand over 20, 23 and an exchange of future secondand third-round picks.
Then Kelly took his football to a new level this year, despite a family situation that includes two young children with learningdifficulties that will need hours of daily therapy.
He believes as they grow up he needs to be back with his family to allow him and his partner Caitlyn the support network togive them the best chance to survive.
Fremantle football boss Peter Bell said this week that “clearly we would love to have him at Fremantle”.
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The Dockers could eventually have pick seven and another early first-rounder as high as six from the Brad Hill trade they could swap for Kelly.
“By no means are we giving up on a race for Tim Kelly. But fresh in our memory is the fact that this time last year it was West Coast that was his preferred destination,” Bell said.
“We will do everything we can to impress upon Tim and his family...that we should be a viable option for Tim to continue playingin Western Australia, if that’s what he wants to do.”
Bell said he hoped the changes the Dockers had made in the past 12 months would help their Kelly pitch.
“By no means are we giving up on a race for Tim Kelly,” he said.
Kelly’s price has soared after he averaged 25 disposals, four marks, four tackles and a goal per game this year.
Originally published as West Coast braces for huge trade demand from Geelong after Tim Kelly requests trade