West Coast Eagles have massive interest in star Geelong midfielder Tim Kelly

GEELONG’S Tim Kelly continues to impress in his first season and the WA clubs are watching closely. And if Andrew Gaff decides to leave West Coast the interest will reach boiling point.

Tim Kelly has been superb in his first season. Pic: Getty Images

TIM Kelly won’t be signing a contract extension before this year’s trade period, shaping as West Coast’s fallback plan if Andrew Gaff departs.

The Eagles have massive interest in Geelong’s Kelly, with reports they have offered the contracted player $1.5 million over three seasons.

West Coast would be well in front of cross-town rival Fremantle if the WA local decided to return home, but do not have a first-round draft pick.

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If Gaff decides to leave West Coast the Eagles would receive a first-round compensation pick (currently pick 18) which would give them some trade currency.

Kelly, taken at pick 24 last year, said again this week he was invested in the club but unsure of his long-term future.

Geelong's Tim Kelly starred against the AFL’s best team. Pic: Michael Klein

It came after another scintillating performance for the Cats, awarded 10 coaches votes for his performance against Richmond on Friday night.

His manager Anthony Van Der Wielen said he hoped Kelly would commit past 2019 but he wasn’t in a position to sign a new deal.

“We are probably not going to be in a position (to re-sign) until the end of the year,” he told the Herald Sun.

“We just want him concentrating on playing good footy.

“I reckon all clubs need to see what happens in the next couple of weeks. I am in regular contact with both clubs here (in WA), and I am in regular contact with Geelong.

“At this stage he will be at Geelong next year but we will worry about negotiating something next year.”

Tim Kelly’s manager says it’s “not out of the realms of possibility” he could return to WA. Pic: Getty Images

Van Der Wielen would not confirm the size of West Coast’s offer and admitted circumstances could change in the trade period.

“It would be pretty hard for him to come home after a year. It would need to be a very compelling set of circumstances but it’s not out of the realms of possibility.

“I am sure it’s going to come up at some stage.”

Melbourne clubs won’t be dissuaded by Gaff’s suspension, aware it was a single moment of madness rather than a pattern of behaviour.

His manager Paul Connors said on Friday that six Melbourne clubs were interested in his services.

Melbourne clubs are still red hot on Andrew Gaff. Pic: Getty Images

They include Carlton, St Kilda, Melbourne, North Melbourne and Essendon.

“I think there’s six Melbourne-based clubs that would be interested in Andrew Gaff, but West Coast is a pretty good club that’s doing a lot right and they don’t lose many players,” he told SEN.

“He’s a deep thinker who just takes his time and I said it last year, Josh Kelly in July was leaving (GWS) and in August he’s staying, so Gaff’s just taking his time.

“He’s a young man who always does his contracts late.

“(Gaff) doesn’t seek out (offers from other clubs), he just knows that there’s interest back home.”

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