West Coast’s $1.1m star Tim Kelly confesses his ‘passion for the game has dwindled’ amid future uncertainties.

West Coast Eagles midfielder Tim Kelly, who is on a $1.1 million contract, has openly shared that he is struggling to connect with the game as he contemplates his future amidst ongoing contract negotiations.

With his current deal set to expire at the conclusion of the 2025 season, Kelly has not yet initiated talks with the Eagles regarding a potential extension.

However, securing a new contract is far from his primary concern as the new season approaches.

“Honestly, my focus is on what I need to do to get my body in shape… my passion for the game hasn’t been at its peak over the past couple of years,” Kelly remarked on Wednesday.

“There’s plenty of chatter surrounding contracts, but my goal right now is to rediscover my love for the game. I hope to get that back soon.”

Having transitioned from Geelong, where he played 48 games and was part of consecutive finals appearances in 2018 and 2019, to a faltering Eagles outfit, it’s understandable why Kelly is feeling the strain.

West Coast’s record of just 10 wins in the last three seasons only adds to his difficulties.

“It’s been a challenging few years, and I’m not alone in that respect,” he acknowledged.

“The whole team has been putting in tremendous effort without seeing much return.”

Nonetheless, new coach Andrew McQualter’s changes have given Kelly renewed hope for a more promising 2025 season.

“It’s been frustrating to say the least, but I believe things will eventually turn around. We’ll see how it plays out,” he stated.

Regarding his contract situation, Kelly, currently coming off a reported $1.1 million-a-year deal, emphasised that his focus is solely on improving his game and fitness, leaving contract matters to his manager.

“It’s something that’ll probably work itself out. My manager, Anthony Van Der Wielen, is diligent in handling that aspect,” he added.

“I’m not really fixating on it (my contract) at the moment.”

“You might think that I am, but I’m genuinely just focusing on getting my body right and having fun once again.”

The pressing question is whether Kelly’s admissions could hint at a premature end to his AFL career. However, the 30-year-old insists that such thoughts haven’t entered his mind, at least for now.

“I’m not contemplating that at this stage,” Kelly concluded.

This Saturday, Kelly will participate in the Indigenous All-Stars match at Optus Stadium. The Eagles are then preparing for their round one encounter against the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday, 16 March.