Young midfielder Matthew Kennedy will become the 73rd player to represent the GIANTS when he makes his AFL debut against Essendon on Sunday afternoon.

Kennedy, the 13th selection in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, was told he would be playing his first AFL game by coach Leon Cameron in the Thursday morning team meeting.

A GIANTS Academy graduate from Collingullie in southern NSW, the club secured Kennedy by matching a first-round bid from Richmond.

The 19-year-old has played seven matches for the WSU GIANTS in the NEAFL this year, averaging more than 26 touches and five tackles a game. 

He starred in the round seven match against the Brisbane Lions, picking up 37 touches, 11 marks, eight inside 50s.

In last week’s one-point win over the Swans reserves Kennedy kicked three crucial goals as well as having 26 touches, nine marks and five tackles.

Kennedy burst onto the scene later than most, choosing to play senior football for Collingullie alongside his three older brothers while also representing the NSW/ACT Rams in the TAC Cup.

Likened to courageous Swans midfielder Luke Parker, Kennedy has no trouble winning contested ball and can be dangerous overhead when pushing forward.

Kennedy turned heads at the AFL Combine last year, impressing with his athleticism and fitness, scoring 14.12 in the beep test.

He also finished top-10 in the relative vertical jump and relative running vertical jump along with being among the best performers in the goal kicking test. 

Kennedy is the club’s second debutant for the season following fellow Academy graduate Jacob Hopper’s first game in the AFL in round eight.