Tim Kelly’s manager, Anthony Van Der Wielen, has released a statement relating to trade rumours surrounding the West Coast midfielder.
“Tim Kelly is completely committed to the West Coast Eagles. 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.”
EARLIER
West Coast midfielder Tim Kelly could quite possibly be seen in Fremantle colours in 2025.
That is the report from SEN’s Sam Edmund who suggests the 30-year-old is a “reasonable chance” to make a cross-town move from the Eagles to the Dockers this trade period.
Channel 7 Perth’s Ryan Daniels reported on Tuesday night that Kelly “is a watch the next 12 months” and that he “would consider options”.
Additionally, Edmund has indicated that a shock move to Freo is a chance to happen as soon as this trade period.
“I was going to mention this player today anyway, but I did just notice that Ryan Daniels from Channel 7 in Perth put him on the agenda yesterday,” Edmund said on AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.
“And it’s Tim Kelly.
“I think there’s a chance Tim Kelly could be traded in this trade period. I reckon there’s a chance he could end up at the Fremantle Dockers.
“He’s got one more year on his contract, until the end of 2025. It’s a big one.
“Ryan is reporting it as well, but I’ve heard separately to that Tim Kelly could end up at the Dockers in this window.
“There’s a chance, just one to watch. It’s a watch, as they say, going forward over the next couple of weeks.
“I would say that’s a reasonable chance that Tim Kelly will play at Fremantle next season.”
Trade Radio co-host Kane Cornes reacted surprisingly to the news before the pair discussed if it would be a good move for both West Coast and Fremantle, if it were to come to fruition.
Cornes: “That’s a bombshell!”
Edmund: “Could this be a win-win? This is a guy who is on a big-money deal, the one he accepted upon leaving Geelong of course.
“A new coach, a new perspective, resetting, a new list manager as well. Maybe it’s a win-win.”
But Cornes would be careful if he were Fremantle as he believes they should be prioritising Sydney’s Chad Warner next year.
“This one is not going to cost them a lot at all,” he added.
“It’s going to still take some salary cap room and I just keep thinking of Chad Warner. Fremantle have to position themselves to land Chad Warner.
“Tim Kelly is a nice-to-have (player), but he’s not a difference-maker with the way that he uses the football and how much he burns the ball.
“I don’t hate it, but I would hate it if all of these deals affect their prospects of getting Chad Warner next year.”
Kelly moved to West Coast from Geelong on a six-year deal in the 2019 trade period. He won West Coast’s best and fairest in 2023.
GET MORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply