Tim Kelly would rather stay at Geelong for one more season than be traded to Fremantle

GEELONG midfielder Tim Kelly will spend another season in Victoria if a trade deal can’t be struck with West Coast. Kelly’s manager reveals why he has no interest in playing for Fremantle.

Tim Kelly would prefer to stay at Geelong than play for Fremantle despite his family circumstances.

TIM Kelly will spend another year at Geelong rather than head to Fremantle despite the Dockers’ attempts to gatecrash his trade with West Coast.

Fremantle has already offered pick 11 to Geelong for the brilliant first-year midfielder.

But Kelly’s manager Anthony van der Wielen said on Friday it was Kelly’s decision rather than his own to deal exclusively with West Coast, which has offered him a lucrative five-year deal.

GARY BUCKENARA: WHAT TIM KELLY IS REALLY WORTH

TRADES: EAGLES’ PLANS FOR KELLY BLOCKED BY BLUES

DOCKER SHOCKER: FREO PULL THE PIN ON HOGAN TRADE

The player manager who has offices in Fremantle is good mates with new Dockers football boss Peter Bell, but said this week he did not want Kelly going to that club.

West Coast has offered picks 20 and 22 — enough points to secure a top-10 pick.

Geelong has said it will only accept a top-10 selection in return for the sparkling midfielder, but Fremantle’s pick 11 would likely seal the deal.

But Kelly has indicated he would play at Geelong for another year, aware his partner and children would only return to the city in January and be gone again by September as he requested a trade again.

Tim Kelly would prefer to stay at Geelong than play for Fremantle despite his family circumstances.

They have three young children and no immediate family support around them despite challenging circumstances, with West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett saying this week it was a legitimate case of homesickness.

“We went to Geelong knowing he was contracted and said he was having a hard time there,’’ Van der Wielen told the Herald Sun.

“He said if you could get something for him he would love to go home. But he will only go to West Coast and if not he will see out his contract.

BOMBSHELL: SCULLY SET FOR HAWTHORN TRADE

FREE AGENCY: BIG NAMES IN LIMBO AS WINDOW CLOSES

DEFENDER: CROW ON COLLINGWOOD’S RADAR

“I asked him if he wanted to have a chat to Peter Bell and he said, ‘I don’t want to do it’.

“He said, ‘I will stay at Geelong or go to West Coast’. But I don’t want to go to a club down the bottom of the ladder because Geelong is a good club.

“Peter and I are good friends, we own property and racehorses together and we are very good friends. But Tim doesn’t want to go to Fremantle.”

Geelong want a top-10 pick for Kelly. Picture: Getty

Spending another season at Geelong would not cost Kelly financially because his wages for his second season in football are set by the collective bargaining agreement.

Van der Wielen has copped a barrage of abuse from irate Fremantle supporters but said he could only represent his client.

“It’s not my decision. I might not have necessarily had a great run at Fremantle (with players) but if he wanted to go there I wouldn’t stand in his way. The supporters can get angry but I represent my client.”

Earlier attempts by West Coast to trade picks 20 and 22 for Sydney’s pick 13 were thwarted by Carlton’s Mitch McGovern trade.

But there remains plenty of time for West Coast to trade those two picks for a suitable selection.