Kelly's agent pours cold water on talk of new deal
Tim Kelly's agent says a new deal for the Geelong revelation is not yet forthcoming despite a report the midfielder could extend his contract with the Cats within a fortnight.
West Australian Kelly is enjoying a stellar debut season with Geelong, playing every game to date, and was one of the keys to the Cats' win over Sydney last week at the SCG.
Geelong are keen for Kelly – overlooked for five years before being taken as a 23-year-old with pick No.24 of last year's draft – to re-sign beyond his initial two-year deal, but homesickness has been something of an issue for Kelly's family. He and partner Caitlin have three children under the age of three, with their support network remaining in WA.
Kelly's WA-based manager Anthony Van Der Wielen reiterated that while his client and Caitlin were happy in Geelong, but they were yet to definitively decide they wanted to recommit long-term to the club, as Fremantle and West Coast come hard despite Kelly having 16 months left to run on his contract.
"There's no hurry," Van Der Wielen told The Age on Monday.
"But I'm really confident that when the time is right, we'll work with Geelong to find acceptable terms [if he chooses to stay]. I couldn't be happier with the way Geelong have treated him.
"There is always some go-home factor but right now Tim is very happy in Geelong.
"I've been having open and honest discussions with Geelong list manager Stephen Wells and general manager Simon Lloyd for quite a few months now. Geelong have been outstanding with their communication and are very understanding of our unique situation and I believe we are all comfortable about where it all sits at the moment.
"They're as good as any club I've dealt with in the last 15 years of being a player agent."
Van Der Wielen's comments come after leading commentator Matthew Lloyd, brother of Cats football chief Simon, said on Friday night that he would be surprised if Kelly sought a trade at year's end.
"They could not be happier with the negotiations that are taking place," Lloyd said on 3AW.
"He loves it at Geelong, he loves the role he's playing.
"I will be staggered if Tim Kelly is anywhere but Geelong next year."
Another pundit, Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes, said on SEN on Monday that Kelly would soon re-sign.
"A little whisper that Tim Kelly is going to sign up with Geelong in about a fortnight," Cornes said.
"There's been some debate over his future but what I'm hearing, I think the club is very comfortable with where his contract status is.
"I'd be expecting an announcement to come inside the next fortnight."
Recruited to the Cats after a brilliant season with WAFL club South Fremantle, Kelly is averaging just under 22 disposals per game this year, and had kicked 13 goals.
The Eagles in particular are understood to have been keen on Kelly in last year's draft.