Understand your role and fulfill it to the best of your ability, no matter what it entails.
That’s the main message from IKON Park during the preseason: the importance of being able to play different positions. And after a couple of weeks into the season, this is already proving to be true, with Matthew Kennedy being a great example.
Kennedy, usually an inside midfielder under Michael Voss, has been asked to play up forward due to injuries. With regular forwards like Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, and other smaller players on the ground, there was a gap to fill after Jack Silvagni got injured. Kennedy stepped up to take on this role.
“It’s unfortunate that ‘SOS’ got injured; he was playing really well for us. They needed someone else to be a target inside 50, so I’ve been working on my forward skills, closely with Jordan Russell, to fill that role,” Kennedy said.
“It’s a pretty cool role — I feel like I’m watching the Charlie and Harry show from the front row!”
This isn’t new for Kennedy; he played in attack in 2019 and also in last year’s semi-final against Melbourne. He’s also been helping out in the midfield, attending nine center bounces in the first two games and scoring in the wins against Brisbane and Richmond.
But what’s different for Kennedy this time around in the forward line is the support he’s getting. “The whole forward line has improved a lot since I last played forward a few years ago. Everyone knows exactly what they’re supposed to do, and everyone is doing their part, which is great.
“It definitely makes it easier, especially for someone new to the position.”
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