Geelong reluctant to trade with West Coast amid fears Tim Kelly could be missing piece to Eagles’ premiership
Geelong star Tim Kelly wants to get to powerhouse West Coast, but the Cats are understandably fearful that he could be the missing piece in the Eagles’ premiership puzzle, hence their reluctance to deal, Sam Landsberger writes.
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Gary Ablett is playing on for one reason.
“We’re capable of winning the premiership next year, which is why I’ve decided to go around again,” Ablett, 35, said last week.
But Ablett hoisting the 2020 cup will be a much harder task without teammate Tim Kelly, who kicked three goals from 31 disposals in a preliminary final last month.
Kelly exiting the Cats’ midfield is one thing, but Kelly pulling on the jumper of a rival contender would compound the heartache.
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“All of us are very reluctant for Tim to go at all, but for him to end up at a fierce rival like West Coast Eagles …” Cats list boss Stephen Wells said last week.
Imagine if the Kelly trade costs Ablett’s Cats a flag next season, because they come up against an Eagles midfield boasting Kelly, Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Nic Naitanui in September?
It’s a long shot, but you don’t often see superstars traded from one contender to another.
In fact, in 2010 the Western Bulldogs — fresh from three consecutive preliminary final losses — failed to honour Josh Hill’s trade request to Hawthorn, and Hill was nowhere near a player of Kelly’s ilk.
The Dogs set an unrealistic price — the first-round pick which the Hawks ended up using on Isaac Smith — partly because they didn’t want Hill improving a rival also in flag mode.
West Coast is a $6 second-favourite for next year’s premiership while Fremantle is $41.
The juicer package the Dockers could offer for Kelly — they have pick No.7 and should get No.6 from St Kilda for Brad Hill — would be the primary reason Wells wants to deal with Freo.
But the West Coast flag factor must also weigh on the minds of some at Geelong.
Kelly has refused to sign countless contract offers in the past two years and yet the Cats are still unsure how to handle his latest trade request.
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While Kelly is determined to land at the Eagles, Fremantle will make one final pitch this week.
Former Hawthorn recruiter Gary Buckenara said refusing a trade would be “pig-headed” as the Cats needed to maximise their return.
He also said it was now up to Geelong to aid Freo’s sell.
“Geelong will help them do that, I would’ve thought. Clubs will help other clubs get a deal done if it’s in their best interest,” Buckenara said yesterday.
“Fremantle have got to sell their club with Nat Fyfe and (new coach Justin) Longmuir and wrap their arms around Tim Kelly.
“Whatever outside help West Coast has offered for your kids and your family, we’ll do the same and more for you. Sell belief that you’re on the right track and will play finals.
“Geelong needs to convince Kelly to do the right thing by us, because we’ve done the right thing by you.”
In 2001 Trent Croad “wasn’t very happy at all” with Hawthorn’s plans to trade him to the Dockers, so they and the Dockers worked together on the “hard sell”, spruiking that he could be the face of Freo.
It worked, and the Hawks drafted Luke Hodge (No.1) and Sam Mitchell (No.36) courtesy of that trade.
Originally published as Geelong reluctant to trade with West Coast amid fears Tim Kelly could be missing piece to Eagles’ premiership