GWS’ staunch defence of star’s monster eight-year deal

The GWS Giants have defended their eight-year deal to Josh Kelly, as one legend described the star as not worthy of the new contract.

Josh Kelly inked a monster eight-year deal with the GWS Giants on Tuesday. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron has defended the club’s decision to tie down Josh Kelly on an eight-year contract reportedly worth $1m a season.

The new deal effectively makes Kelly a Giant for life, as the club selected the 26-year-old with the second pick of the 2013 national draft.

For Cameron, keeping the midfielder at the club for the long term was critical to the club’s future success, but he noted just how excruciating a decision it would have been for Kelly.

“It’s wonderful news,” Cameron said.

“It just reinforces that a young fella like that, which he’s got a lot of strong ties back in Melbourne, to commit to being a ‘lifer’ at our footy club along with Toby (Greene) and Lachie Whitfield.

Josh Kelly and Toby Greene are both on long-term contracts with the Giants. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“That’s a massive decision for a young fella to make, and it’s great that it’s gone our way.

“We were really confident, we didn’t see any concerns that were bubbling along throughout the year other than just the time.

“For him to commit to our footy club is just unbelievably exciting for us.”

Cameron pinpointed one critical aspect within the club as a driving force behind Kelly putting pen to paper on the new deal.

“To commit to our footy club shows that they want to be there for the right reasons,” Cameron said.

“People talk about culture, and what that means is it’s a good place to be at, it’s a good workplace, it’s competitive, but equally it’s a whole shift from Melbourne to Sydney.

Leon Cameron believes the Giants’ culture was a driving force behind Kelly committing his future to the club. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“We’re rapt that it’s happened, and there’s a number of players doing that every year which builds really good confidence among our supporters.

“Yes, we’ve had some players leave but equally a lot of players have stayed at our footy club for the right reasons, and we’re really proud of Josh making that really good decision.”

Kelly echoed a similar sentiment to his coach in regards to the culture built up at the club, saying it was a key factor that swayed him to stay with the Giants instead of returning home to Melbourne.

“Throughout the decision, there was times I was to-ing and fro-ing a bit,” Kelly said.

“At the end of the day, the relationships you form at a football club and when you become entrenched in a football club like the Giants, and what we’ve built over the years and the culture we have and hopefully the success that’s not too far away, is something that I hold pretty dear to myself and something that I’m pretty excited about what’s ahead.”

Despite the Giants’ staunch defence of handing Kelly a bumper contract, one AFL legend was not so sure it was the right call.

Legendary Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews believes the 26-year-old has value but nowhere near the reported $1m salary he’s set to pocket.

Legendary coach Leigh Matthews doesn’t view Kelly as a $1m player. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“I wouldn’t have thought Josh Kelly is a $1m player,” Matthews told SEN.

“The fact is, would any other club in the competition have taken over that contract off the Giants?

“Josh Kelly, I suspect, was more valuable a couple of years ago than he is now.

“He’s not a $1m player in a sense that you’d name a lot of players who might be $1m players before you’d get to Josh.

“He might be in the 20s — but it’s a gigantic contract.”

Kelly will look to shut out the noise from outside as the Giants gear up for a must-win clash against Richmond in the penultimate game of the regular season.

GWS occupies eighth spot on the ladder, but Richmond are only two competition points behind as the race for the finals almost reaches its end.

Originally published as GWS’ staunch defence of star’s monster eight-year deal