Geelong will seek draft picks rather than players if Tim Kelly requests a trade to West Coast at the end of the season.
While the Cats remain hopeful Kelly will sign a new deal, the club’s list management department has also developed contingencies should the midfielder seek a move back to Western Australia.
It’s broadly expected Kelly will ask to leave for family reasons, just as he did in 2018, though no formal decision has been communicated to Geelong.
But if he does depart, Foxfooty.com.au understands the Cats have no interest in any West Coast players and would instead like to stockpile multiple high draft selections as compensation for Kelly.
Rival clubs have been told the Cats are committed to gaining at least three top 30 selections in November’s National Draft and have confidence in young midfielders such as Charlie Constable to step up if Kelly leaves.
Before priority picks and academy selections, Geelong has Picks 18 and 36 in the upcoming draft. Meanwhile, West Coast currently has 14, 22 and 32, but the first and last of those can change depending on how the Eagles go in the finals.
Geelong is also aware of an added benefit in obtaining multiple high selections, as it is currently in line to be restricted by AFL rules around trading first round picks.
Having taken just one player in the first round between 2015 and 2018, the Cats cannot trade their 2019 first round pick unless they have another ready to be used.
Therefore if the Cats want to make a play for St Kilda’s Jack Steven or North Melbourne’s Shaun Higgins, they would need to complete a potential Kelly deal first. That would free them up to use a top 20 pick as part of a move for either player.
However there is an avenue to get the restriction waived by the AFL, which is what Hawthorn is reportedly set to consider.
The legislation is in place to protect clubs from recklessly trading away the rights to elite junior talent every year. In essence, it is designed to shield clubs against themselves.
Though the Dockers believe they are in with a chance for Kelly, the Eagles remain his more likely destination. Last year Kelly would not be drawn on a move to Fremantle, but there does not appear to be as much push back in 2019.
Fremantle certainly has the cap space, but West Coast is closer to sustained success. The Eagles loaded up on long-term deals to keep Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern in 2018, while Elliot Yeo (2023) and Jack Darling (2025) are both locked in for several seasons to come.
“I’m always the optimist with these things and I’d love to have Tim in our team next year,” Chris Scott said on Nine over the weekend.
