Almost 12 months on from his own Draft day, one of Collingullie’s finest has issued a cheeky warning about a potential new GIANT.
GIANTS TV caught up with second-year GIANT Matt Kennedy after a gruelling training session in the muggy Sydney heat on Wednesday morning.
The former number 13 draft pick used the opportunity to get back at one of this year’s brightest prospects and fellow GIANTS Academy graduate Harry Perryman.
“I’m not sure about this one, I’ve been telling them not to pick him,” Kennedy said with a smile.
“He’s a bit of a light frame and his skills aren’t great. I’m a bit worried and I’m not looking forward to it, he’s a bit of a character this bloke.”
With just over 500 people in the tiny town of Collingullie, Perryman and Kennedy have grown up together and played local football at the same club for years.
17-year-old Perryman enters Friday night’s NAB AFL Draft as one of the top prospects and as he’s been doing the media rounds in the lead up to the Draft, he’s mentioned Kennedy on more than one occasion.
“I wouldn’t want to live with him. He’s not the smartest bloke going around, I’d like to think I’ve got him covered there,” Perryman told AFL.com.au last month.
Then, this morning on SEN, Perryman had another go.
“I know, it will take me a while to get used to it I suppose,” he said when asked how he will deal with moving into the city.
“Yeah I reckon I’ll be right, Matty Kennedy can do it… so I don’t see why I can’t.”
Potentially teammates come Friday, it could be a frosty reception if Perryman does end up as a GIANT.
“He’s put me under the bus a few times so I thought I’d try and have a go back at him, he deserves it,” Kennedy joked.
Matt Kennedy and Harry Perryman played in Collingullie's Premiership-winning team together in 2015
While most players spent their eight-week break relaxing or heading off on overseas holidays, Kennedy was straight back to Collingullie to help out on his family’s farm.
“Being a country boy I just went straight back home to the farm and I didn’t move really,” he said.
“Dad had to pull me off the tractor a few nights to get me home but I really enjoyed my time back home just doing that and delivering a few tiles for the family business.
“I basically had a full time job, that’s what it felt like but I loved every second of it.”
Kennedy returned to the club on Monday along with the rest of the 1-4 year players and was greeted with a 3km time trial, the 19-year-old finishing third behind rookie Jake Stein and Jacob Hopper.
“It’s good to get back from the break but it’s been pretty challenging so far with the 3km on day one,” Kennedy said.
“I know a few of the boys struggled doing that and then obviously today backing up again and getting into the rhythm of pre-season.
“It’s pretty solid but it’s good to be back and see a few of the boys again.”
After playing three games in his first season before being part of the WSU GIANTS’ NEAFL Premiership winning side, Kennedy has his sights set on bigger and better things in 2017.
“It still feels like my first year. I suppose there’s a bit more expectation on you, not being your first year but I’m really looking to have a really good pre-season and go from there,” he said.
“I just want to stay injury-free. I had a few niggling injuries in pre-season last year which affected me having a full pre-season.
“The goal right now is to have a full pre-season and get myself really fit and strong and then go from there and try and play a few games.”
And if Perryman’s name does get called out by the GIANTS on Friday night?
“Just keep him as far away as possible, that’d be great,” he laughed.
The 2016 NAB AFL Draft will be held in Sydney on Friday night.
