Geelong coach Chris Scott can’t see a way a trade for Tim Kelly can be done

As Geelong coach Chris Scott cast doubt over whether star midfielder Tim Kelly would be traded, Freo skipper Nat Fyfe weighed in, saying the decision was all about money.

Will Tim Kelly stay at Geelong or head home to Western Australia? Picture: Michael Klein

Geelong coach Chris Scott remains hopeful Tim Kelly will stay at the Cats next season after casting doubt over whether a trade can be done for the star midfielder.

Kelly is expected to request a trade to West Coast to be closer to his family after his bid to return to Western Australia failed last year.

The Cats will again drive a hard bargain for the 25-year-old, who was one of the best afield in Friday night’s preliminary final loss to Richmond with 31 disposals and three goals.

“We’ll fight really hard to keep Tim,” Scott said.

“I just can’t see a way a trade can be done, personally.”

West Coast currently holds pick Nos.13, 22, 31 and 59 in this year’s draft but will likely need to find a way to trade in another first-round selection to seal a deal.

Last year, the Cats rejected the Eagles’ trade offer of picks 20, 22 and a future draft selection.

When asked what a fair trade for Kelly would look like, Scott joked on AFL360: “Four first-round picks and Dustin Martin.”

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Will Tim Kelly stay at Geelong or head home to Western Australia? Picture: Michael Klein

Fremantle is another option for Kelly should he be hellbent on returning to WA, but on Tuesday morning Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe said he thought his club might struggle to meet the Cat’s financial requests.

The morning after his second Brownlow medal win, Fyfe was asked what his club could do to entice the 25-year-old to Freo.

“Dollars,” was Fyfe’s blunt response.

“I think we live in the real world and that has a fair bit of play in it.”

Kelly is believed to want to join the Eagles over Freo, but Fyfe wasn’t convinced that was true.

“I’m not sure that’s the truth, and you can’t really believe what you hear or what you read,” he told SEN.

“I think he wants to potentially go home, he’s a wanted and required player back at Geelong and we’ll be doing everything we can to get him because he’s a quality player, but the proper process will have to take place over the coming months.

Nat Fyfe (right) tries to smother Cat Tim Kelly. Pic: AAP

“But I think Fremantle would be a reasonable fit for him if he wants to come home.”

Fyfe said he’d had a “little bit of a chat in passing” with Kelly but it was difficult to chat in detail on Monday night.

“At the right time I’ll make contact,” he said.

“He’s got some big decisions to make and I’m sure Geelong want to hang onto him, but we’d like to have him.”

If no trade deal can be struck, Kelly could enter the draft given he is out of contract, meaning he would be able to be selected by all clubs.

The Cats coach said while it’s “possible” Kelly could sensationally enter the draft, it remains “unlikely”.

Kelly gave no insight into his playing future on Monday night.

“Tough decision to come up, that’s no secret. It’s something that myself and my family don’t take lightly,” he told Channel 7 at the Brownlow Medal.

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“We’ll get to that once the dust settles.”

Scott has only spoken briefly to Kelly since Geelong’s season ended on Friday night.

“I actually said to him I don’t want you to say anything because I don’t want to put pressure on you to answer my questions now,” Scott said.

“I just said give me a minute, hear me out, I’ll hang up and we’ll catch up over the next couple of days.

“But that’s private at the moment.

“I will say there was nothing negative in it.”