WAFL watch: How Tim Kelly fared for West Coast reserves against Subiaco after being dropped

Dropped for the first time in his 100-game career at West Coast, Tim Kelly was upstaged by two lesser lights – and it was a former Eagles teammate that kept him quiet.

Dropped for the first time in his 100-game career at West Coast, Tim Kelly was upstaged by two lesser lights as he presses for an AFL call-up.

Kelly finished with just 14 disposals, one tackle and four clearances in last week’s 81-point loss to Greater Western Sydney. Eagles coach Andrew McQualter denied Kelly’s omission was a selection statement.

But the veteran midfielder struggled to have a consistent impact in West Coast’s 19-point reserves loss to Subiaco at Mineral Resources Park.

Kelly finished with 20 disposals, 10 inside 50s and five tackles playing in the midfield. He was subject to heavy attention from the Lions’ on-ballers, namely former teammate and Subiaco skipper Greg Clark who restricted him to seven touches in the first half before the exited the game early.

Tim Kelly played in the WAFL on Friday night after being dropped by the Eagles. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Ruckman Matt Flynn (20 touches, 49 hit-outs, one goal) and uncapped draftee Lucca Grego (23 touches, five tackles, four inside 50s) had more influence as the pair push for senior selection.

Flynn was the dominant ruck on the ground, winning several hit-outs to advantage and contested marks. Playing in the midfield, Grego was clean, physical and composed.

Victorian Lions recruit Archer May was also impressive, finishing with 17 disposals, nine marks and three goals.

Here is how Kelly fared.

FIRST QUARTER: FOUR DISPOSALS, TWO INSIDE 50S, ONE GOAL

 It was a promising start by Kelly who started in the midfield.

Swapping his #11 for the #18 guernsey, Kelly copped plenty of attention from Subiaco’s midfield.

Former Eagles teammate Clark went to Kelly around the ground and the pair wrestled for front position at most stoppages. When Kelly started centre bounces forward of centre, he had sweeper Stefan Giro for company.

Former Eagle Greg Clark proved to be a nuisance. Picture: Michael Klein

Kelly skimmed the top of the 50 with a pinpoint pass to Luke Yeo only for the Eagles to turn it over. He was also flattened after standing under the footy in a marking contest before finishing the first quarter with a classy goal from a forward 50 stoppage.

West Coast’s inexperienced defence was put under immense pressure by Subiaco. Harry Barnett and Rhett Bazzo had to work overtime as the Lions piled on 6.1 (37) in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER: THREE DISPOSALS, ONE MARK, ONE INSIDE 50 

Kelly was heavily involved early in the second quarter, his first touch coming after starting on the attacking side of the stoppage and working out into space.

A long bomb down the line gained West Coast some ground but he followed up and got a handball away under pressure.

Forming a wall at half-forward, Kelly then took an intercept mark on the edge of the centre square and sold some candy to gain distance on his kick inside only for it to be intercepted by the Lions.

Kelly didn’t touch it for the remainder of the quarter. There was one instance he went for the man instead of the ball at a stoppage and Subiaco were able to easily sweep it out.

He did lay a crunching tackle on Jordan Snadden after getting on the move at stoppage.

Kelly finished with 14 disposals. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

THIRD QUARTER: FIVE DISPOSALS, TWO TACKLES, TWO INSIDE 50S 

Kelly started the third quarter like he did the second, even winning the first possession of the term – a quick flick to Noah Long.

With Clark off the ground, Kelly had a bit more freedom at stoppages. He was able to force the ball forward with a soccer off the ground early and he followed up with a grubby handball under pressure.

Kelly did over-estimate how much space he had and was caught holding the ball inside 50 after a case of indecision, not wanting to kick on his left.

What does the future hold for the veteran? Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

With his two-way running questioned, Kelly pushed back into defence and broke a tackle on the last line before releasing a teammate to clear. He added a further two free kicks but both were under pressure and designed to gain ground.

He also showed a glint of aggression, getting into some push and shove after an aggressive tackle and he also gave away a free kick for high contact as the rain started to fall.

FOURTH QUARTER: EIGHT DISPOSALS, FIVE INSIDE 50S

An ambitious checkside snap from the pocket just about summed up Kelly’s evening. With rain steadily falling at Laithlain, it was not the time nor the place to attempt that from deep in the right pocket.

There were some signs of Kelly magic though. A clean one-handed pick-up in defensive 50 allowed him to feed the ball out to a teammate. Kelly laced out Jobe Shanahan on the lead with a delightfully angled kick. And he also got on the end of a perfectly weighted kick into the middle of the ground.

Josh Robbins followed him everywhere he went but Kelly kept working and moved the ball forward at every opportunity. Sloppy disposal ultimately hurt him.

Originally published as WAFL watch: How Tim Kelly fared for West Coast reserves against Subiaco after being dropped