Geelong has offered off-contract star Tim Kelly a one-year deal worth $800,000 with triggers for a second, according to SEN's Time On host Sam McClure.
Kelly’s future at the Cats has been a topic of much discussion after requesting a trade to West Coast in order to return to his native state of Western Australia last year.
The terms of the proposed deal would put the midfielder alongside Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins as one of the highest earners at the club.
“I can tell you tonight that the machinations in list management at the Geelong Football Club have seen them offer Tim Kelly a creative one-year contract, with triggers for a second, that would see him enter the fantastic four at Geelong,” McClure told SEN’s Time On.
“A contract worth a tick over $800,000 if he does stay at the Cattery, would not only make him the highest paid third-year player ever to stay at his club, but it would also put him in the four highest earners at Geelong – next to Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield, captain Joel Selwood, and powerhouse forward Tom Hawkins.
“In order to help him with his difficult decision of returning home to Western Australia, Geelong have offered him a one-year deal at big money.
“He either stays and earns the same or even more the following year, or he leaves and Geelong still demand, like they would last year and this year, two first-round draft picks.”
Kelly, 24, has emerged as one of the stars of the competition since joining Geelong as a mature-aged recruit from South Fremantle in 2017.