As a teenager playing against men, Matthew Kennedy learnt quickly that he had to be tough if he was ever going to live his dream of playing in the AFL.

That dream will become reality on Sunday after Kennedy was picked to play his first game for Greater Western Sydney against Essendon at Etihad Stadium. 

The 19-year-old was taken with pick 13 in last year's NAB AFL draft – the club's second academy selection after Jacob Hopper was taken at pick seven – and settled quickly at the GIANTS thanks to his hard-nosed approach.

Prior to being drafted, Kennedy opted out of the TAC Cup to play senior footy for Collingullie, his hometown near Wagga in the Riverina region of New South Wales, and told AFL.com.au that playing in two grand finals for the Demons certainly hardened him up. 

"I copped a lot of whacks playing country footy," he said.

"One bloke actually broke his arm on my head and knocked me out.

"The old fellas don't like it when the young kids get on top of them so the only way to stop them is to belt them.

"Its pretty tough and dirty out there."

Sydney Swans gun Callum Mills (pick three), Hopper (7) and Kennedy (13) are close mates after playing under-age representative footy together and were the top three players drafted from NSW last year.

Mills has been outstanding in defence for the Swans and has missed just one game when he was rested in round 11, while Hopper made his debut for GWS in round eight against Gold Coast and has played the past five matches.

Hopper has shown a liking for winning clearances and contested ball in his short time with the GIANTS, and Kennedy sees himself as the same type of inside midfielder.

"That’s probably my one wood," he said.

"I think 'Hop' (Jacob Hopper) and I are pretty similar in the way we play so we both got told to have a red hot crack which is what we've been doing, and we're both getting our opportunities now."

Kennedy has been in outstanding form in the NEAFL in 2016, and is coming off 26 possessions and three goals in the reserves' tight win over the Sydney Swans last week. 

Coach Leon Cameron said on Thursday that Kennedy's attack on the ball and the opposition stood out as soon as he arrived at the club late last year.

"He's really hard at the footy, he's a good country lad and the boys really love him," Cameron said.

"He'll put his head over the footy and can mark the ball overhead.

"He'll be an infectious player amongst our group because he's got that that popularity in the short time he's been here."

GWS co-captain Phil Davis told AFL.com.au that he had no doubt that Kennedy would be quick to adjust to the speed of AFL footy.

"He's extremely hard at it and his contested ball winning ability is very, very good," Davis said.

"He's a really nice kick, but his hardness is his number one thing.

"I haven't seen too many blokes as hard as he was when they've just rocked up to a footy club."

Kennedy will replace injured star Steve Johnson against the Bombers, with the veteran set to miss 1-2 weeks with a foot injury.

Johnson had an injection earlier this week on a foot issue that he's carried for the past month, and the GIANTS are hopeful that the triple Geelong premiership player's injury will respond well to the treatment.

GWS faces Carlton at Spotless Stadium in round 14 before its mid-season bye, so if Johnson doesn't get up to face the Blues, he'll be out of action for at least three weeks.

"We'll probably just deal with it week to week," Cameron said.

"You don't want anyone missing for a period of time because it takes the edge off them, but I'll worry about that next week, and see where he's at next week."

Mature-age draftee Daniel Lloyd has been elevated off the rookie list in place of exciting forward Jarrod Pickett, who had already been ruled out for the season with a foot injury.

Lloyd was plucked from Killarney Vale on the NSW Central Coast last year after being spotted by suspended GWS assistant coach Mark McVeigh.

The powerful forward has been consistently amongst the club's best players in the NEAFL playing as a forward and through the midfield, averaging 25 possessions, six tackles and six clearances in his seven games this season.