Adelaide defender Jake Kelly is still without a contract for next year.
Kelly, an unrestricted free agent, told SEN’s Dwayne’s World in July that he was prepared to wait until after the season to sign a new deal.
“That’ll be something that we’ll work through over the coming weeks and into the end of the season,” Kelly said.
“That’s progressing okay and going in the right track.
“If it happens at the end of the year then that’s fine with me.”
South Australian football journalist Michelangelo Rucci expects the Crows and the 26-year-old to eventually agree to a contract extension.
“Traditionally he’s always one of the last to get a contract. Didn’t he go through this last time where he had to wait and wait and wait?” Rucci asked on SEN SA Breakfast.
“I don’t think anything has changed there, has it? You’d pretty well think there would be one (new deal) eventually, but they usually make him wait for one.”
SEN SA Breakfast co-hosts Kane Cornes and Andrew Hayes discussed Kelly’s contract situation and his importance to the Crows.
Hayes: “For me, I think Jake Kelly is more required than that.
“He’s been important this year, particularly when Luke Brown went down, that’s when we really realised how important he is.
“He was playing centre half-back at various stages.”
Cornes: “There’s a Collingwood connection there with his brother (Will) and his father (Craig) who is a significant player manager, so they’ll know what to do in this space.
“I can understand the Crows not being in a massive hurry to sign him up.”
Kelly played 20 games in 2021, taking his career tally to 110 since debuting in 2015.