AFL open to Geelong offering left-field deals for Tim Kelly as veteran trio wait on new contracts

Geelong’s decisions on new contracts for Lachie Henderson, Scott Selwood and Harry Taylor won’t be linked to finding cap space for Tim Kelly, who will mull over radical deals the AFL is open to the Cats offering their star.

Will Tim Kelly stay at Geelong?

Geelong is adamant the futures of veteran trio Harry Taylor, Scott Selwood and Lachie Henderson are not linked to the cap space needed to keep Tim Kelly.

The Cats will have to stump up as much as $800,000 to retain Kelly, and are considering radical deals that could allow him to leave mid-contract if he desires.

The AFL is open to the Cats offering the kind of left-field options that give Kelly a series of out clauses on a long-term contract that provides flexibility but guaranteed money.

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But the Cats also have a tight salary cap and a trio of high-profile veterans in Taylor, Selwood and Henderson off contract.

All might have to take pay cuts because of their age and output but not because of Kelly’s circumstances.

Taylor, who just turned 33, is in exceptional form after coming off a lucrative long-term contract that was then extended at the start of last year.

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Will Tim Kelly stay at Geelong?

If the club did eventually make a decision to retire Taylor, who plays his 250th game this week, he has said he will accept their ruling and not go out kicking and screaming.

Selwood, 29, is finishing his first four-year contract after being lured from West Coast while Henderson, also 29, is also finishing his initial four-year deal.

Their futures would clearly seem to be at Geelong but where they fit into the best 22 remains to be seen.

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The Cats will have to find that cap space for Kelly somewhere but have made clear to that trio decisions on their contracts are independent from his deal.

Gary Ablett seems certain to go on after another exceptional year but both parties are happy to wait until later in the season, with the dual Brownlow Medallist on a modest wage.

Will Harry Taylor play on next season? Picture: Getty

Selwood battled with injuries over the summer but has been in strong form in six VFL games since returning, averaging 108 ranking points in the last month

Henderson has battled plantar fascia issues but is listed as a test on the club’s injury list and will hope to build strong form in the second half of the season.

He turns 30 in December and at his best is an athletic swingman but after knee issues last year has played only eight games since the start of last year.

Tom Hawkins comes out of contract next year but is in such strong form he believes he can play on for another two or three seasons.

Ablett is believed to be on just under $400,000 a season, exceptional value for a player who is setting the competition alight this year.

“I don’t generally talk about the nuances of list management and total player payments, but he’s a very good value player,” coach Chris Scott said this year.