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Kane Cornes says West Coast Eagles got Tim Kelly trade wrong as ageing list causes issue in 2021

Headshot of Catherine Healey
Catherine HealeyThe West Australian
Tim Kelly arrived at West Coast as part of a big trade deal with Geelong.
Camera IconTim Kelly arrived at West Coast as part of a big trade deal with Geelong. Credit: Paul Kane/via AFL Photos

The West Coast Eagles should never have “sold the farm” for midfielder Tim Kelly, with commentator Kane Cornes warning the club “got it wrong”.

West Coast are clinging to their spot in the top eight, but recent heavy losses to Geelong, Sydney, the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood and a home loss to last-placed North Melbourne have cast plenty of doubt over the team’s premiership credentials.

Speaking on Footy Classified, Cornes said the club was “not deserving” of a place in the finals.

“They’ve got it wrong,” Cornes lamented.

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“You could see it coming from a mile away.

“They’ve had one first round draft pick, Jarrod Brander, since 2017. Other clubs are going all out and getting two, three, multiple first round draft picks.

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“The Eagles have neglected that because of the Tim Kelly trade.”

Former Geelong teammates Tim Kelly and Joel Selwood.
Camera IconFormer Geelong teammates Tim Kelly and Joel Selwood. Credit: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via AFL Photos

Cornes said the fact the Eagles failed to head to the draft while still holding on to their ageing stars was now an issue in 2021.

West Coast have eight players aged 30 and over, including 33-year-old duo Josh Kennedy and Shannon Hurn.

“They have the second most (over 30s players) in the competition and a lot of those are banged up and miss a lot of the competition,” Cornes said.

“The cliff’s coming for the Eagles. It’s been on the cards for a long time.

“In hindsight, if you knew his performance was going to be this, they were all in at the time. Tim Kelly was phenomenal at Geelong but he hasn’t been that same player.”

The Footy Classified panel of Craig Hutchison, Caroline Wilson and Matthew Lloyd all agreed the Eagles lost out in the blockbuster Kelly trade.

Kelly is one of 10 players who have played in all five of the dismal Eagles losses for 2021.

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