Fremantle could offer Geelong star Tim Kelly a godfather offer as homesick Cat weighs up future
Geelong has a history of striking gold in state leagues, and they aren’t the only club to recruit a star in his 20s. But Tim Kelly might be the best of the lot, and it could make him a millionaire.
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The AFL’s recruiters keep bemoaning the fact there is no new Tim Kelly to pluck from this month’s upcoming mid-season draft.
Why would there be?
Because it is becoming increasingly apparent Kelly is a once-in-a-generation mature-aged talent.
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Kelly, third in the AFL Coaches Association award and likely leading Geelong’s best-and-fairest, is turning into the best mature-age recruit modern football has seen.
Better than James Podsiadly, better than Michael Barlow, better than Kane Lambert and just shading Tom Stewart, another genius Stephen Wells selection to make his debut for the Cats at age 23.
Instead of second-year blues, Kelly has gone to another level for Geelong and justifying the club’s decision to play hardball over a trade.
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It raises the question, why wouldn’t Fremantle offer Kelly the kind of Godfather offer that could blow West Coast out of the water.
Kelly, set to make just over $200,000 this year through a mandated $120,000 base, $12,000 bonus for games played and $5000 a game, could multiply his salary by five times next year.
On current form as a 24-year-old complete midfielder with flawless character and durability they wouldn’t be negligent throwing six million at six years at him.
What astonishes Geelong is how easily he compartmentalises the family homesickness issues with his demeanour around the club and determination to excel.
His numbers this year are impacted this year by Matt De Boer’s shutdown job in Round 4, keeping him to only nine disposals for the day.
But Geelong believes he has clearly improved across all aspects of his game, allowing them to play Patrick Dangerfield forward at times and keep Joel Selwood on a wing.
Last year he finished ahead of Dangerfield in the best-and-fairest award and would be holding off Dangerfield, Ablett and Blicavs this year.
Against Essendon Kelly played the perfect midfield game — 30 possessions, 568 metres gained, 10 clearances, two goals, score involvements, two direct score assists.
Few midfielders kick as many goals as Kelly, who ticks every box as a ball winner who spreads and also puts on above-average pressure.
With six goals for the year he is behind only Hugh McCluggage (10 goals), Stephen Coniglio (nine) and Dom Sheed (seven) as a goalscoring midfielder this year.
A Fremantle side desperate to add speed with Harley Bennell almost certainly having played his last game would pay the world for Kelly.
The irony is that West Coast, which offered around $3 million over five years but baulked at Geelong’s asking price, has a better range of picks to get a trade done if he does come home than Fremantle.
As of this week the Eagles have pick seven as well as pick 21, having secured that second-rounder tied to Sydney’s pick.
Fremantle has pick 17 and 35 — their own picks — which is less than the 20 and 22 offered by West Coast (with a swap of 2019 second and third-rounders).
Geelong cannot lose whatever happens this year — they either keep their star on a new contract or multiply their investment with a stack of early draft picks for footy’s emerging new star.
LATE BLOOMERS: THE BEST MATURE-AGE RECRUITS
— Harry Taylor has played 244 games since debuting with Geelong at the Cats at 21
— James Podsiadly played 104 games for Geelong and Adelaide after debuting at 28
— Michael Barlow played 141 games for Fremantle and Gold Coast after debuting at 22
— Kane Lambert has played 80 games so far for Richmond after debuting at 23
— Tom Stewart played his 50th game at this weekend after debuting at 26
— Brodie Mihocek has made a rattling start to his Pies career after debuting at 25
— Hugh Greenwood came from basketball to debut for Adelaide at age 25
— David Mirra debuted for Hawthorn at the age of 27, the oldest debut by a current listed player
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