GWS star Josh Kelly recently agreed to an eight-year contract extension with the Giants, worth an impressive one-million dollars per season while turning down reported interest from North Melbourne.

The jet midfielder revealed on Sportsday the difficulty behind his decision to stay due to a tempting deal from the Kangaroos that would also have seen him return to Victoria and follow in the footsteps of his father.

“There was nothing specific and I’ve said throughout that I always felt a bit of a tie there (North) because of my dad playing football there and supporting them as a kid,” the 2017 All-Australian said.

JOSH KELLY
Midfielder
GWS
2021 SEASON AVG
26.1
Disposals
5.6
Tackles
4
Clearances

“That was the kind of thing that was running through my head, but in the end I just felt an obligation to the Giants and the culture that we’ve built and I wanted to hang around and have success here and that’s what I’m pretty motivated about going forward.”

This is the second deal Kelly has declined from the Kangaroos, after the club reportedly offered the Giants star a nine-million dollar deal back in 2017.

Yet, despite numerous temptations from North, the Giants' continued progression to win a premiership has played the greatest role in his decision to stay.

“There was always a bunch of factors running through my head in a big decision like this,” Kelly said.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 05: Josh Kelly of the Giants celebrates a goal during the round 20 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Melbourne Demons at UNSW Canberra Oval on August 5, 2017 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“You build relationships and you want to have success with those people around you and I truly believe and we’re in a position where we can hopefully do it in the near future going forward."

“It’s an exciting place to be and I was rapt to get it done and get it out of the way and just focus on footy.”

Kelly has played 154 games for the Giants since making his debut in 2014, winning the club's best and fairest three seasons later. 
After racking up an impressive 28 disposals in the Giants' one-point elimination final win over the Swans, his influential position in the midfield continued to prevail.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 27: Josh Kelly of the Giants celebrates after the round 6 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground on April 27, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
However, with key Giant Toby Greene potentially missing this week's semi-final against Geelong, Kelly is in need of a big game to get GWS over the line.
After losing their first Grand Final to the Tigers back in 2019, the Giants are hungry for another chance at a premiership.
So can the Giants secure another chance at winning the Grand Final? Find out on Friday night when the Giants take on the Cats at Optus Stadium.