Geelong coach Chris Scott is "very, very optimistic" that star Cats midfielder Tim Kelly "will be a Geelong player for a long time".
After a brilliant debut season in 2018, where he finished equal second in Geelong's best and fairest award, Kelly requested a trade back to his native WA.
He wanted to get to West Coast, but the deal, which once looked a formality, fell through.
And even before a game had been played in 2019, speculation had been rife that Kelly would again seek to return to the West, with rumours abound that the 24-year-old is open to the idea of joining Fremantle if the West Coast deal can't get done.
Speaking on SEN's Crunch Time, Scott said Geelong is very bullish that they can hold on to the smooth-moving onballer.
"Anyone that thinks it's a foregone conclusion that Tim Kelly is going to leave Geelong is mistaken," said Scott.
"I'd probably repeat the comments that Tim's made already publicly, that none of us can predict the future, he's really drive to win a premiership with Geelong.
"Our list management team will work really hard on getting a good result for the club.
Kelly racked up 31 disposals, nine clearances and two goal assists in the Cats' seven-point win of the Pies on Friday night.
"I think the best result for the Geelong footy club is for time to have a great year, he started it pretty well; he was the best player on the ground in my view last night," Scott explained.
"I am very, very optimistic that he'll be a Geelong player for a long time."
Kelly, who has a partner and three young children, has made it clear that family reasons are the major reason behind his desire to return home.
Scott was sympathetic, but said "good footy clubs don't give up players like that that easily".
"Again, I'll repeat what I've heard Tim saying publicly, which is he loves Geelong and if he could move the Geelong footy club to Perth so he could have more family support, he would play the rest of his career out at Geelong," said Scott.
"It is unfortunate in professional sport right across the world that most players do need to move away from home to pursue their dreams, and it's a big impost for the families involved.
"Tim has a slightly rare situation in that he has three really young kids and had great family support in Perth that he doesn’t have now.
"I think anyone that has kids knows that it does get a little bit easier, that first year's really tough, especially when you’ve got twins and another young child as well.
"I'm just really confident that Tim will get better and better in every respect, not just his on-field but his off-field stuff as well.
"It's not just about Tim the footballer. It's not often that bringing in a player that's performed so well on the field after being overlooked for five drafts, and become such an integral part of our footy club… footy clubs, in my view, good footy clubs, don't give up players like that that easily."
