Geelong coach Chris Scott remains upbeat about Tim Kelly staying beyond this AFL season, despite ongoing speculation the midfielder will seek a return to Perth.
West Coast made an unsuccessful bid for Kelly during the trade period last October and there is now speculation that Fremantle could also become a suitor later this year when he is out of contract.
Kelly enjoyed an outstanding debut season last year, finishing joint-second in the Cats' best and fairest.
He and partner Caitlin Miller have three young children, including twins, and they wanted to return to Perth for family support.
But Scott is confident that these challenges can be overcome.
"I'm optimistic on the basis that Tim seems to be really enjoying his footy,"' Scott said.
"He's playing really good footy for us (and) 12 months in, his family is going to be more settled than what they were.
"He's said publicly that no-one can predict the future and clearly we're in the same boat, but I've been so impressed with the way Tim has handled the attention - he's an outstanding young man."
Geelong would not budge in their negotiations with West Coast and Scott strongly suggested that will stay the case if there is another bid for Kelly.
"It's a double whammy if you lose really talented players, but guys who are also well-respected and contribute more than just their (skills)," Scott said.
"That suggests we're not going to let him go easily, even if he wants to, and I think we've put a stake in the ground there.
"But I think there's a very real possibility that he'll be enjoying his footy enough to think that Geelong is a pretty good place to be."
After Geelong knocked back West Coast's trade bit, Miller was critical of the support they had received from the club and made it clear she would like the family to relocate back to Perth.
Scott, who moved from Melbourne to Brisbane to pursue his playing career, thinks the challenges can be overcome.
"I'm very confident that the more time she spends here, the happier she is going to be," he said.
"It's going to be difficult to absolutely recreate a family situation that Caitlin and the family had over in Perth.
"But again - not just AFL history, but history, is littered with people who have had to move away from their preferred living situation to pursue their dreams.
"There are a few of us."
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