GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron has defended the club’s decision to tie down Josh Kelly on an eight-year contract reportedly worth $1m a season.
The new deal effectively makes Kelly a Giant for life, as the club selected the 26-year-old with the second pick of the 2013 national draft.
For Cameron, keeping the midfielder at the club for the long term was critical to the club’s future success, but he noted just how excruciating a decision it would have been for Kelly.
“It’s wonderful news,” Cameron said.
“It just reinforces that a young fella like that, which he’s got a lot of strong ties back in Melbourne, to commit to being a ‘lifer’ at our footy club along with Toby (Greene) and Lachie Whitfield.
“That’s a massive decision for a young fella to make, and it’s great that it’s gone our way.
“We were really confident, we didn’t see any concerns that were bubbling…
