GWS star Josh Kelly opens up to Mark Robinson on his future
Josh Kelly says he loves the club and living in Sydney, but will go with his “gut” when it comes time to make a decision on whether to re-sign with the Giants. Is he gettable? Mark Robinson sits down with the GWS star.
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Josh Kelly says he “loves GWS” and “loves living in Sydney’’ but has not set a deadline on making a decision to re-sign with the club.
The Giants are confident the 24-year-old will spurn a second round of multimillion-dollar offers from rival clubs and hope their key playmaker commits before Round 1.
The Herald Sun understands North Melbourne, who offered Kelly an estimated $11 million over nine years to defect after the 2017 season, is aware Kelly is likely to remain a Giant.
Kelly is out of contract at the end of the season.
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When he last re-signed, and amid intense speculation, he waited until the 2017 finals to recommit to the Giants.
In an exclusive interview, the club vice-captain indicated — without confirming it — he had a long-term future with the expansion club.
“I do feel an ownership within this club,’’ Kelly said.
“I’ve been in this situation before and last time it was all the unknown.
“The offers came, I was out of contract, I had played some solid footy.
“I thought I knew what I was capable of, and I think I was holding off the first time knowing that.
“This time round, it’s different. I love it up in here in Sydney, I love the club.’’
Club insiders say Kelly’s investment off-field as a leader has given the club confidence he will stay.
A key sign was Kelly’s enthusiasm during last year’s draft period.
“I care about this club, I care about my position in it, where we’re going, and I’m in a good position to spend my future here,’’ Kelly said.
“I care about the draftees we’re bringing in. I want to know we are bringing in the right people who are good footy players that have the right character so we can build on the culture we’ve created here.
“I’m vice-captain, and I’ve often been a lead-by-example, play good footy type of player, but the leaders we have up here have showed it requires more than that.
“I want this club to be successful because right now, and there’s a good chance into the future, I’m going to be a Giants player.
“I want to win premierships and all those little things add up to that.’’
Kelly and star midfielder Stephen Coniglio are priority re-signings for the Giants this year.
While Coniglio, 25, is also a strong target for opposition clubs — Carlton is believed to be one of them — the Giants also expect him to recommit.
Giants chief executive David Matthews told the Herald Sun teammates and football staff see huge investment from Kelly.
“There’s a level of confidence because you can see how happy he is in Sydney, enjoying the lifestyle, how popular he is with the staff and how comfortable he is as a leader of the club,’’ Matthews said.
“A player like Josh, like Stephen Coniglio, like Jeremy Cameron, like Callan Ward, they’re entitled to have options in front of them because they are that good.
“Why wouldn’t you want Josh Kelly at your club.
“But we’re desperate to retain him, as we are with Stephen Coniglio and a number of others, because they are the fabric of the group.”
The Giants offer to Kelly is expected to be six or seven years, starting at at least $1 million a season.
“The opportunity for him will be significant and the term … he’s welcome to stay as long as he wants and we’d feel the same way about Stephen Coniglio,’’ Matthews said.
“The players understand they are able to earn fair and significant money and big offers will come elsewhere like they did last time, and we won’t be far away from those.’’
Kelly said his “gut’’ will tell when the decision will made.
“For me there’s no perfect decision-making process,’’ he said.
“I’ve taken my time with these decisions in the past like I did last time. It’s not something I will rush in to. When my gut tells me it’s the right time to make a decision (I will make the decision).’’
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Originally published as GWS star Josh Kelly opens up to Mark Robinson on his future
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