Garry Lyon and Tim Watson say Giants midfielder Josh Kelly is “not close to moving the needle”, as a multi-million dollar decision looms for the 26-year-old.
Jake Niall yesterday wrote in The Age that the 2017 All-Australian is staring down a decision whether to opt out and chase success, or take up the option in his contract to sign for close to $8 million over eight seasons.
“Josh Kelly was touted heavily that he was going to take over the competition. He hasn’t,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“He’s not close to moving the needle right now. He’s not close to being a game influencer.”
Through two rounds, Kelly is averaging his lowest disposal numbers in standard game time in six years, and he is yet to kick or assist a goal this season.
“He’s not a (Marcus) Bontempelli, he’s not a Dustin Martin, he’s not in the elite game-changing class,” Watson concurred.
Bulldogs captain Bontempelli was drafted two selections after Kelly in 2013, and has won three best and fairest medals and three All-Australian nods to the Giant’s one.
He produced a match-winning performance against West Coast on Sunday afternoon, pushing the Dogs over the line with 30 disposals and three goals.
“Granted, he’s (Kelly) had injuries, and that’s held him back to a degree… but the Bontempelli comparison is what everyone was going on about at the time,” Lyon recalled.
“That’s the impact you want from that sort of player, and that’s what everyone was telling us Josh Kelly is going to have.
“And he’s just stagnated at the moment.”
The pair acknowledged the Giants’ struggles to start the season, lacking inspiration in defeat to St Kilda and Fremantle, but Lyon believes Kelly should take responsibility for turning it around.
“That’s when you stick your head up. (Lachie) Whitfield throughout the tough year they had (in 2020)… he was busting his boiler to try and change the flow of the game, instigate run and take the game on through the centre,” he explained.
“He was forever doing that. Josh is not.”
Watson says we are seeing the implications for the Giants’ player retention, with Zac Williams, Jye Caldwell and Jeremy Cameron all departing last year.
“If they continue to pay this amount of money to one player, it means other players are going to be forced out of their club because of their salary cap restrictions,” he said.
“We’ve already seen this… and it’s going to mean they’re compromised in terms of the success they may be able to have down the track.”
Lyon believes the story could swivel if Kelly rediscovers his touch.
“Is he three dominant midfield games away from everyone going 'my lord, the suitors are going to come again',” he pondered.
“If he goes out and starts accumulating and influencing and having those big number games, like the Bont, who had a 30-possession, three-goal match-winning game.
“If Josh Kelly has one of those, the narrative starts to shift.”
Watson suggests that Kelly has a significant decision to make.
“The bottom line really, for me, it is either the money and the eight-year deal, because he probably won’t get both those things if he comes to a Melbourne club that is going to have success,” he added.
“In the article, Jake reckons the three clubs that can afford him are Hawthorn, who are rebuilding, North Melbourne, who are rebuilding, and Essendon, who are rebuilding.
“So if he wants success in the short term, he’s probably not going to choose either of those three teams, but they can afford him.
“He may need to choose between 'the sack' or the success, the sack being the money.”
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