North Melbourne’s big-money offer for GWS Giants star Josh Kelly

GWS Giants star Josh Kelly is reportedly fielding a multimillion-dollar offer from North Melbourne, in the latest AFL trade whispers.

North Melbourne have reportedly offered GWS star midfielder Josh Kelly a massive $8.8 million deal over eight years. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

North Melbourne have reportedly offered GWS Giants star Josh Kelly a massive $8.8 million dollar deal to join the struggling Kangaroos from next year.

The gun midfielder’s contract with the Giants ends at the end of the season, but Kelly has an unusual clause in his contract that could trigger an eight-year extension with GWS that would allow him to be a Giant for life.

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Speaking on the Triple M Footy podcast, AFL journalist Tom Browne said that North Melbourne are attempting to poach Kelly with an eight-year deal worth $1.1 million per season.

“I keep getting told that North have offered $1.1 million times eight years if Josh Kelly wants to come to North Melbourne,” Browne said.

“Now the second question there becomes whether the Giants want to keep Josh Kelly because remember that Kelly is playing at the Giants and they can essentially keep him. “He’s got an option in his favour but I think Kelly would prefer at this stage to stay at the Giants.

“He’s not against going to North Melbourne. He’s obviously got huge family links there and he could return to Victoria.

“But I think the Giants at this stage are pretty keen on keeping Kelly.

GWS Giants star Josh Kelly is reportedly fielding a massive offer from North Melbourne. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“So just watch this space. Either way, Kelly’s going to earn a lot of money and it looks like it will take over a million dollars a year to extract Josh Kelly out of that Giants option.

Kelly started the season poorly by his standards and played mostly in the forward line.

But the 2017 All Australian has returned to some of his best form since Giants coach Leon Cameron moved him back into the midfield a couple of months ago.

“He’s worth it at the moment, he’s in good form. When he was injured last year he looked a bit slower but he’s just quick on his feet at the moment and is really playing good footy,” Browne said.

It means Kelly faces a significant, multimillion-dollar dilemma come season’s end.

Last year GWS confirmed the 26-year-old had signed a two-year extension that tied him to the club until at least the end of 2021.

But multiple reports at the time suggested the contract had, from an AFL player perspective, unprecedented flexibility with triggers that could tie him to the Giants for life at his discretion.

Multiple reports in the past have suggested Kelly has an option to trigger a clause to extend his contract, worth reportedly around $1 million a season, by a further eight years.

But if that clause isn’t triggered, the 26-year-old would be available for free agency at the end of next season.

Kelly in 2017 was heavily courted by North Melbourne – the club his dad Phil played 61 games for in the early 1980s – before eventually re-committing to the Giants.

Originally published as North Melbourne’s big-money offer for GWS Giants star Josh Kelly