West Coast still looking for a high draft pick to swap to Geelong for Tim Kelly

TIM Kelly’s hopes of getting to West Coast have taken a hit with Carlton pulling the rug out of a potential deal to help the Eagles land the Geelong star.

Tim Kelly wants to head home to WA - and the Eagles. Pic: Getty Images

TIM Kelly’s hopes of getting to West Coast have taken a hit with Carlton pulling the rug out of a potential deal to help the Eagles land the Geelong star.

Sydney had emerged as a potential broker in a deal to help the Eagles secure a high draft pick that could satisfy the Cats.

But last night the Swans agreed to send that pick to Carlton.

The Swans have pick No. 13 and could trade it down the draft order in return for West Coast’s picks No.20 and No.22.

That would give the Eagles’ pick No.13, plus a possible sweetener from later in the draft, to on-trade to Geelong for Kelly.

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Geelong wants a top-10 pick for the contracted midfielder who finished runner-up in the Cats’ best and fairest by only half a vote last week.

But with the threat of Kelly’s family moving home to Western Australia to be closer to family, the Cats may have to consider compromising slightly to get the deal done.

Kelly has three young children and a partner, Caitlin Miller, who said she was missing her friends and family back home in WA.

Former Geelong premiership hero Jimmy Bartel said a pick between No.10 and No.20 would be fair swap for the 24-year-old ballwinner.

“I’m not taking anything away from Tim Kelly, but he’s not an All-Australian and he was surrounded by a really good midfield,” Bartel told Trade Radio.

Geelong's Tim Kelly in action. Pic: Michael Klein

“This is really picking, because I thought he was absolutely fantastic, but I think he can tidy up his field kicking.

“Under pressure, at different times, it escaped him during the year.

“(Plus) a bit more of defensive transition. If he can get back to half back and join in that way, because he is unbelievably explosive going forward.

“A very good player you are getting, but I think between (pick number) 10 and 20 is appropriate.”

Geelong already has pick No.12 and would have a doubly strong hand in the early part of a highly-rated draft crop if it can also secure No.13 via the Eagles for Kelly.

It would allow the Cats to re-invest in youth and prepare for life after superstars Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins after trading away their past three Round 1 picks for established stars.

But Geelong list chief Stephen Wells has confirmed the Cats will happily keep Kelly to his contract for 2019 if they cannot secure adequate compensation.

The Cats welcomed the mature-age revelation with pick No.24 last year.

He exceeded all expectations in his debut AFL season, averaging 24 possessions, four tackles, four clearances and one goal a game across 23 matches.

Swans academy star Nick Blakey will almost certainly join Sydney next month. Pic: Getty Images

John Longmire’s Swans could help broker the Tim Kelly deal. Pic: Getty Images

The incentive for Sydney to complete the swap is to secure more draft value index points to claim academy prospect Nick Blakey.

Sydney’s Pick No.13 is currently worth 1212 points.

But the Swans could boost their balance considerably if they parted with that selection in exchange for West Coast’s picks No.20 (912 points) and No.22 (845), giving Sydney 1757 points in total.

Sydney list manager Kinnear Beatson has said a rival bid was expected to come for Blakey as early as pick No.5, which would cost the Swans 1878 points (minus a 20 per cent discount).

By swapping pick No. 13 for No.20 and No.22, it would net the Swans an extra 545 points, on that deal alone.

Geelong could also trade its third-round pick (No. 50) to Sydney for speedster Gary Rohan.

Sydney would not comment.

Tim Kelly was awarded the Best First Year Player Award at the AFL Players' MVP Awards. Pic: Getty Images

HOW KELLY DEAL COULD HAVE WORKED

- Sydney gives pick No. 13 to West Coast in return for No.20 and No.22.

- West Coast gives No.13 to Geelong for Tim Kelly.

- Sydney use the points attached with picks No.20 and No.22 (1757 in total) to snare academy prospect Nick Blakey.

- The Swans will find out on draft night how many points they will need to nab Blakey.

- A bid at pick No.5 on Blakey would force the Swans to cough up 1878 points (minus a 20 per cent discount).

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