Geelong firming in race to keep gun midfielder Tim Kelly as Fremantle hopes fade

FREMANTLE is losing hope of securing young gun Geelong midfielder Tim Kelly, believing he will sign a contract extension with the Cats this year.

Geelong is firming in the race to keep its young star Tim Kelly. Picture: Michael Klein

FREMANTLE is losing hope of securing Geelong midfielder Tim Kelly, believing he will sign a contract extension with the Cats this year.

After 19 disposals in the final quarter of the Cats’ Round 15 two-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, he was again supreme in their dramatic last-term comeback against Melbourne on Saturday night.

His last quarter saw him amass 10 disposals, two inside-50s, a score assists, a classy snapped goal and 53 ranking points.

KENNETT: SUNS’ STRUGGLES AFL’S FAULT

RUN HOME: WHO GETS SQUEEZED OUT IN FINALS FIGHT?

Geelong is firming in the race to keep its young star Tim Kelly. Picture: Michael Klein

The Dockers and West Coast would both be keen to secure his services if he decided to move home.

But Fremantle’s information is that he continues to tell Geelong he wants to remain and expects him to do so.

Dockers captain Nathan Fyfe recently said he would love to play alongside Kelly but not at the expense of young talent such as Victorian ruckman Sean Darcy.

Fremantle’s list manager Brad Lloyd is the brother of Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd, who has made clear they expect to re-sign Kelly.

The Dockers missed out on another key target this week when Jeremy McGovern signed on for five seasons at the Eagles.

It is understood that deal is worth up to $1.2 million a season, the same pay rate as Richmond’s Dustin Martin.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY BELOW AND YOU COULD WIN AFL GRAND FINAL TICKETS

The Dockers had told McGovern’s management they would have matched any deals offered by Victorian clubs if he had chosen to leave the Eagles.

But despite missing on another trade target the Dockers will be content to again lean heavily on the draft this year.

Last year they secured Adam Cerra and Angus Brayshaw as top-five selections

Brad Hill seems content to remain in Western Australian despite being linked to a return to Victoria.

He is only two years into a five-season deal and has had a year of controversy that included a series of club breaches in a bar in May.

His management said yesterday that despite continuing speculation he has no interest in a return to Victoria, after being traded for pick 25 by the Hawks two seasons ago.

West Coast’s Scott Lycett will meet with his management in the next 48 hours as a long list of clubs pitch for his services.

He would clearly make more money leaving West Coast but indicated in a radio interview on Sunday he did not want his contract as a distraction entering finals.

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >