Disagree, we haven’t even seen peak Josh Kelly. He will be 27 at Round 1 this year.
We don’t need marquee, we have Dusty, we have Lynch, we have Dion, we have Grimes, we have Vlastuin to lead the next wave and we have culture. We don’t need someone to come in and take over, we need someone to fit and be a top 5 talent for the next four years. Kelly fills a pressing need, elite midfield talent that can fextend the window.
And peak Kelly can be the best player in the AFL in our side. Cripps & Bont are long shots to leave. In fact I’ll be gobsmacked if either of them move. GWS is in a stat of flux, change is happening, Kelly will come home, he fits us. It’s a mat
I'm not convinced Kelly would be a good target.
I think for our stage free agency is either about filling a role or attracting a marquee player.
Kelly would be on marquee money but I don't think he has the capacity to have a marquee impact on games. If we are asking guys to shave salary to fit someone in then I think you risk morale by doing so for someone who doesn't cut it as a superstar.
A Bontempelli or Cripps is going to come in and tear games apart, they will make the difference in results. Kelly would come in and play very solid football, have great numbers and be a very good player but he won't have a huge influence on the win/loss column as an individual player.
TBR, reckon I almost never agree with any of your posts!!
But I agree totally on this one. Personally, I dont even rate Kelly as highly as others do. I watch him closely, to be honest, I watch all the GWS games as I am fascinated by which players GWS let go to other Clubs vs who they've prioritised to keep, the media hype and their draft/trade strategy, etc.
Genuinely, they fascinate me as a Club, their draft and trade strategies, their decision making on who to keep vs who to let go and what in a very big way, might be an opportunity passed. I really like Leon Cameron, but he's not the right coach - and has not been for many years. And Simon Matthews is one of the more interesting CEOs - in good and bad ways I think. He's too emotional, hands on and blunt for my liking. But they've been burnt so I understand his angst. And deep down, I dont think he is even that sure about his coach.
Anyway.. back to kelly. 7 out of 10 player at best IMO.
He is a graceful looking player, sort of how Lids looked good at times. Classy looking. And Kelly has some good games. But at his asking money, and for his genuine, sustainable impact on games, I'd bet my house that he's not a target for us. And not worth it at all for what GWS will want. Totally agree with TBR re: his lack of 'marquee' impact on games. I would have loved Whitfield 1-2 years ago as the Houli replacement but that time has passed too. Whitfield is a competitor, but like many of those from their early inception, who they have kept and are on big money, Whitfield is just playing for the dough now. As is Greene and even Haynes.
Agree also re Bontempelli as a better possible target. But as a Captain and loyal person, that's never going to happen unless something goes seriously wrong with their coach/club. Two years ago I wanted Cripps. He's body wont last, its been beaten up too much carrying their midfield and while I really would like for Cripps to have success, I dont know how long he has. I'd honestly pass on him too.
For me, I'd throw everything (not a free agent) at the King Brother up north or Lukosias or Sam Taylor at GWS or some of Sydney's midfielders picked in the 2nd and 3rd rounds these last few years look good. And because some of the Freo blokes might start getting sick of the defensive coaching of Longmuir (a very good coach I think), there might be something there. Even if Peter Bell is the 2nd coming of Dodoro, plays the trade only his way, that might make it too hard to prise the quality Freo players out.
And then there's Jarrod Brander? Pick 13, a Victorian who in my opinion, has never quite looked settled at WCE. But can he really play? I really dont know.