PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 09: Tim Kelly of the Eagles poses for a photo session for his new club after the West Coast Media Opportunity at Mineral Resources Park on October 09, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Former North great David King believes Eagles recruit Tim Kelly will be the player who has the most impact at his new club.

After months of speculation, Kelly requested a move from Geelong back to Western Australia during the 2019 exchange period.

The star midfielder was traded for two first-round picks, picks 24 and 33, with a third-round pick and pick 52 coming back.

The 25-year old was coming off a huge season, averaging 25 disposals for the ladder-leading Cats and finishing fourth in the Brownlow.

And King believes he'll provide Adam Simpson's side with exactly what it needs.

“I think the guy who is going to have the biggest impact on his new club is Tim Kelly,” King told SEN Breakfast.

“There’s no doubt about that in my mind. The Eagles have been the worst ground ball team in the competition the last two years in terms of winning the ball that’s spilling, that’s bobbling, whether it be off clearance or a general crumb.

“This is where Kelly is elite. This is where he can change the game and one man can make a massive difference.”

King compared the influence Kelly will have at West Coast with Patrick Dangerfield's at Geelong.

“If you think of what Patrick Dangerfield did for Geelong when he went there. They were the worst clearance team and 13th in contested footy, now they’re second and third,” he said.

“In that one season, he took them to second and third and we have seen Lachie Neale do the same thing for Brisbane.

“One player, an absolute jet like Kelly is, going into an already functioning footy club and a gun midfield that score from stoppage, I think that’s the biggest (difference) in the competition in 2020.”