West Coast midfielder Tim Kelly’s manager has denied suggestions he is prepared to consider his options with rival AFL clubs beyond 2025.
According to 7NEWS Perth’s Ryan Daniels, Kelly would prefer to stay at the Eagles, but is open to a move if a deal is not struck before his contract expires at the end of next year.
“Tim Kelly is a watch the next 12 months,” Daniels said on Tuesday night.
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“The West Coast Eagles mid is out of contract at the end of 2025 — no deal on the table beyond.
“Kelly’s preference is to stay, but would consider options. Inquiries have been made by multiple interstate clubs.
“Kelly’s management spoke with Fremantle, but the conversation didn’t progress beyond a casual chat.”
On Wednesday, Kelly’s manager, Anthony Van Der Wielen, released a defiant statement on his client’s behalf, pledging his allegiance to the Eagles.
“Tim Kelly is completely committed to the West Coast Eagles,” Van Der Wielen said.
“I spoke with him at length just yesterday and can confirm he is very excited about what lies ahead under the guidance of new coach Andrew McQualter.
“He is currently contracted up until the end of this season (2025), and I see no reason why he wouldn’t remain with the club beyond that if they wish to retain him.
“We are open to discussing this with the list management team anytime they wish to do so.”
A move out of Perth for Kelly would be particularly interesting, given how desperate he was to return home after having his career take off when he was drafted to Geelong as a mature-age recruit.
The Cats took Kelly as a 23-year-old in the second round of the 2017 draft, which proved to be an inspired selection.
He won the AFLPA best first-year player in 2018 and became an All-Australian in 2019, before requesting a trade home to Western Australia at the end of that year.
Kelly is set to be joined at the Eagles by Richmond duo Liam Baker and Jack Graham, who will link up with former interim Tigers coach McQualter, and the new senior coach may need to check his text messages to see if Shai Bolton wants to join in on the fun.
McQualter was officially unveiled as West Coast’s new coach on Monday, with the 38-year-old replacing 2018 premiership mentor Adam Simpson, who departed in July.
Moments after McQualter’s three-year deal was announced, dual Richmond premiership players Baker and Graham made known their desire for trades to the Eagles.
The pair have strong ties to McQualter, who was a long-time assistant at the Tigers before being the club’s interim coach for 13 games last year when Damien Hardwick stepped down.
Graham will join West Coast as an unrestricted free agent, but the Eagles will have to complete a deal with Richmond to snare Baker.
Bolton, arguably Richmond’s biggest star following the retirement of Dustin Martin in August, has also told the Tigers he wants to return home to Western Australia.
Fremantle loom as Bolton’s likely destination given their premiership window is about to open and they have three first-round draft picks to deploy in a deal with Richmond.
But McQualter’s arrival at West Coast has at least given the Eagles a chance of snaring the star 25-year-old, who is contracted to Richmond until 2028.
McQualter was tight-lipped when asked about the potential for trades involving some of Richmond’s stars.
“I’ve had a pretty big 24 hours. I’ve got about 320 messages on my phone I’ve got to get to,” McQualter said on Monday afternoon in his first official press conference as West Coast coach.
“So we’ll get around to that when the time’s right.”
West Coast chief executive Don Pyke said the club was in talks with a number of players.
“Trade starts next week, and our view has been, ‘How do we add more talent to the list?’ — be it through draft, through trade, through free agency,” Pyke said.
“We’ve still got a really clear vision of what we want to do from a list strategy viewpoint.
“And if some of those pieces fall into place, great.”
– With AAP