Josh Kelly could be set for a move back to Victoria at the end of the season when he becomes a restricted free agent.
The GWS midfielder has an option on his current deal to extend his stay at the Giants b eight years for $8 million. However, SEN's Sam Edmund is reporting that Kelly may be set to head home to Victoria.
Edmund is reporting that it is "more likely" the 2017 All-Australian will test the free agency market at the end of the season.
โI think Josh Kelly is well and truly captain of the intrigue list (when it comes to restricted free agents this year),โ he said onย SENโs Crunch Time.
โThe Giants were caught between a rock and a hard place, theyโve signed this contract which will see him earn eight million over eight years if he takes up this option in his contract.
โ(Josh) Kelly is one not to be rushed and heโs one of the great contract procrastinators it was put to me, I think itโs more likely he leaves but where he goes to, thereโs only a small number of windows there."
The silky left-footer has been in good form for the Giants this year and filled the leadership void left by the injured Stephen Coniglio and Toby Greene when filling in as captain.
Josh Kelly leading the @GWSGIANTS in the Zero Hanger MVP rankings ๐ถ
MVP Top 50: https://t.co/ipekkUyUV6
Full Leaderboard: https://t.co/ohYjdSrOaR#AFL #GWSGiants #BigBigSound #NeverSurrender pic.twitter.com/D6Xfi1zhBC— Zero Hanger (@zerohanger) June 4, 2021
Kelly was approached by North Melbourne and more informally Carlton when he was last out of contract with North Melbourne offering him a staggering nine-year deal worth more than $10 million.
Edmund is reporting that North Melbourne would again be in the market to match the money Kelly would demand, but that they weren't alone.
โNorth (Melbourne) can afford him, Essendon can too and he has some links there in (former teammates) Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith,โ he said.
โHeโs 26, he was an All-Australian in 2017 and has been a stand-in skipper this year and I would argue heโs been in some reasonable form.โ
