‘It’s my job’: Eagles coach reveals how star’s shock axing went down… but insists it’s no ‘statement’

McQualter not making an example of Kelly | 01:21

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says midfielder Tim Kelly was “really understanding” yet “disappointed” by the club’s decision to axe him from its Gather Round team to face Carlton, but denies it was a simple case of a first-year coach making a selection statement.

McQualter on Thursday morning confirmed Kelly — an All-Australian and the Eagles’ 2023 best and fairest — had been dropped to West Coast’s WAFL side for this weekend.

The 30-year-old veteran has struggled to get going in 2025, averaging just 18.8 disposals, 3.3 tackles and 4.5 clearances a game. Last week against the Giants, he had just 14 disposals, three of which were kicks, for a measly 91 metres gained.

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Using the AFL Player Ratings metric, in which Kelly is currently at 7.63 points, he is the 273rd ranked player in the competition.

McQualter said the Eagles were confident Kelly would soon rediscover his best form.

“I’ve been really clear with Tim on what’s required of him within his role,” McQualter told reporters in Adelaide.

“Tim was really understanding – disappointed, as you would expect – but we’re really supportive of Tim that he’s going to get back to his best footy. So he’s going to go and play in the WAFL this week and really work on the things that we spoke to him about.”

McQualter copying Lyon with Kelly axing? | 01:19

Asked what specifically Kelly had to work on, McQualter said: “I’m not going into the details, I don’t think it’s for public forum. It’s really for Tim and our match committee and our group.”

Asked if his decision to drop Kelly was a selection statement to the Eagles’ playing group as a first-year coach, McQualter said: “No, it’s really not about that at all. It’s about picking a team that we think’s rewarding the right behaviours every week and a team that can win each game of footy.

“Ultimately, it’s my job and it’s our job as a match committee to do it. The expectation is the player have an understanding that’s we’re picking the best team to win every week and we’re rewarding the right behaviours.”

SHADES OF ROSS THE BOSS

But dual All-Australian and Fox Footy analyst Leigh Montagna, who played alongside McQualter at St Kilda, believes the Eagles coach has taken a leaf out of the playbook of their former coach Ross Lyon.

“You know ‘Mini’ better than us, is he just making a statement, a shot across the bow for the rest of the troops?” David King posed on Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview.

Montagna replied: “I think so. McQualter was at St Kilda in 2008 when Ross Lyon made the famous decision to drop (Stephen) Milne and (Nick) Dal Santo, who were All-Australian calibre players, because they weren’t living up to the team standards.

“It put a shudder through the whole playing group at that moment and I think from mid-2008 to about 2011, St Kilda won 60 out of 70 games or something like that, so maybe he’s taken a leaf out of that, he’s just put the whole team on notice. Doesn’t matter how talented you are, how good you are, if you’re not living by our standards you won’t play.”

Life as head coach hasn’t started easily for McQualter. Outside of a gritty effort against Brisbane in Round 2, the Eagles have suffered heavy defeats to Gold Coast, Fremantle and the Giants, slipping to 0-4 as a result and now staring down the barrel of yet another disastrous season.

“I think there’s a couple that can consider themselves very lucky,” King said, referring to other underperforming Eagles players.

Why Allen doesn't 'owe' Eagles | 03:22

Co-captain Oscar Allen is another name who has been in the headlines this season, for all the wrong reasons.

Allen drew criticism for a meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, but his form has also left plenty to be desired.

Allen has recorded just 28 disposals in four matches this season at an average of seven per game. He’s booted just three goals and was recently swung back into defence as McQualter searches for ways to get the best out of one of his star players.

King says fellow co-captain Liam Duggan is another who needs to lift.

“That’s how horribly out of form (Allen) is and Liam Duggan, if you’re talking about ethos or ethics of your football club and standards, a couple of things that Liam did early in that game last week, I would think he would be very lucky despite only averaging 18 or so touches,” King said.

“They’ve got to get some impact from their leaders, and this is maybe one lever you can pull, you haven’t got many, but this is one you can pull at.”

Montagna added: “I think that’s fair, you’ve probably got to give your captain’s another chance and get them to make a statement and hopefully they can deliver.”

HOW KELLY CAN REDISCOVER HIS LOVE OF THE GAME

A 2023 club champion and 2019 All-Australian, Kelly hasn’t been the same player in recent years.

And one of those contributing factors is his passion for the game.

“To be honest, for me it’s about honing in on what I’ve got to do, get my body right … my love of the game hasn’t been great over the last couple of years,” Kelly told The West Australian earlier this year.

“There’s a lot of contract talk and this and that but I’m just trying to love the game again. And hopefully that comes.”

Schofield: Mitchell holds grudges | 00:49

But former West Coast Eagles player Hamish Brayshaw believes there’s a way for the Eagles to get the best out of Kelly.

“Tim Kelly has obviously been dropped, fallen out of love with the game,” former Eagle Hamish Brayshaw told 6PR.

“A big reason for that is that Jack Darling and Jamaine Jones were his two best friends at the football club. One has moved, one has been delisted.

“So his best mates at the footy club have left. Your mates have left, you’re losing games, you obviously fall out of love.”

But Brayshaw thinks the Eagles could use the mid-season draft to not only bolster their midfield stocks but help to create an environment where Kelly can flourish once more.

“My good oil is that Brandan Parfitt, the West Coast Eagles will be eyeing him off for the mid-season draft,” he said.

“‘TK’ is a good player. He’s 25 games removed from winning a John Worsfold Medal and he had 30 disposals against Brisbane three weeks ago.

“He hasn’t just forgotten how to play football. The love for the game is big and if it’s not there, it’s not there. A good way to get it back is to take on one of his very good mates – who not only is a friend of Tim Kelly’s and will get the best out of him, but he is also a gun in his own right.”

Parfitt played 130 games for Geelong but was delisted at the end of the 2024 season.

“He’s got a spring in his step, bounce and a sheer drive and determination to make it back in the AFL.”

Kingy unveils the ball movement ladder | 03:10

WHAT’S NEXT?

Kelly’s manager, Anthony Van Der Wielen, said Kelly is “disappointed” but will use the opportunity to “build confidence”.

“He’s obviously disappointed about that but understands the decision and knows his form hasn’t been at the level he expects of himself,” Van Der Wielen said in a statement provided to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph.

“He sees this as an opportunity to reset, build confidence and hopefully push straight back into senior selection.

“Tim’s a proud player and leader. One of the most driven and self-aware athletes I’ve worked with. He is very confident he can get back to his best form very soon.”

Whether Kelly can do that remains to be seen, but a strong WAFL outing on Friday night will go a long way in doing so.

But there’s silver linings to this.

While the Eagles and Kelly would no doubt be wanting things to be going better than they are, the Eagles get a chance to blood some youngsters in his absence.

Kelly has attended 70 per cent of centre bounces this year, a team-high among midfielders for the Eagles. With veteran Elliot Yeo on the sidelines due to injury, it’s time for the youth to shine.

Boak backs Petracca post-game outburst | 01:33

Clay Hall has shown plenty in two outings at the level this season, while former Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Tom Gross also looked comfortable at the level on the weekend in his debut.

Jack Hutchinson is a chance to return from injury, while local boy Hamish Davis got his first taste of senior footy against the Giants as substitute.

We still haven’t seen draftee duo Bo Allan or Lucca Grego, who both dominated throughout their under 18s seasons.

Ex-Sandringham Dragon Harvey Johnston is another name pushing for senior selection, while Ryan Maric and Reuben Ginbey, albeit in a different position, have been shining lights in 2025.

Elijah Hewett is currently on the sidelines due to a minor calf problem but is another who is in line for more senior opportunities this year.

In an ideal world, Kelly goes back to the WAFL on Friday night, has 30 disposals and kicks a couple of goals and slots back into McQualter’s side sooner rather than later.

The question now is, can Kelly, and the rest of the Eagles side, respond?

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