GWS coach Leon Cameron is confident Josh Kelly will remain at the Giants for his entire AFL career, with the club more than happy to give him more time to make a final decision.
Kelly is weighing up whether to enter free agency at the end of this season or trigger an eight-year deal at GWS, reportedly worth about $8 million.
It was initially believed the Giants gave Kelly a July 31 timeline to make up his mind.
But with GWS and Sydney forced out of NSW on June 22 due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the Giants have been sympathetic to Kelly’s need for more time given the unique travel schedule.
North Melbourne are hovering if Kelly decides to leave but Cameron is confident of retaining the 26-year-old.
“I think what’s probably happened over the past six weeks because we’ve been on the move… he’s probably just taking care of his footy right now,” Cameron said.
“But I’ve got great confidence that Josh is going to be a life commitment like Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield at our footy club.
“I understand it’s a talking point until he’s signed on the dotted line, but I’m confident Josh will be at our footy club for a long time.
“We’ll give him as much time as we possibly can but equally there will come a point where he has to make a decision.
“I’m really confident that decision will be in our favour.”
Of more immediate concern to Cameron is keeping alive his team’s finals hopes amid a crippling injury crisis.
Phil Davis (concussion), Jacob Hopper (concussion/broken nose), Tom Green (hamstring), Shane Mumford (back), and Sam Reid (ankle) have all been ruled out of Friday night’s crunch clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Jeremy Finlayson, Bobby Hill, and captain Stephen Coniglio are still unavailable, pushing the Giants’ stocks to the limit.
GWS slipped to ninth after last week’s loss to Port Adelaide, and they are in desperate need of a win against the second-placed Cats (15-4).
“We understand the stakes are high. They don’t get much higher,” Cameron said.
“But I don’t want our players to shy away from Friday night footy. Everyone watches it, we’re on centre stage against a really good team.
“I want them to thrive on that challenge and thrive on that pressure.”
Coniglio won’t play this week as he continues to manage soreness in the toe he had operated on earlier this season.
He made an AFL return in round 18 against Sydney, but has been sidelined since then.
“It didn’t help that someone stood on his toe in his AFL return, so that’s clearly flared it up,” Cameron said.
“There’s no issue when he’s doing straight line and speed, it’s just that change of direction.
“Clearly it’s a delicate decision, because it’s not just for the week ahead of the week after, it’s also for his career.
“Until the season is done and dusted, there definitely won’t be a line through him, unless we clearly know that he’s not available to get up. But right now he’s still right in the mix.”
AAP
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