All the attention in the off-season may have been on the GIANTS’ new recruits but it's been the club’s relatively unknown players who have stepped up when injury has hit.
With Phil Davis and Tim Mohr on the sidelines, it's given an opportunity to young defenders such as Adam Kennedy, Nick Haynes, Sam Frost and Curtly Hampton in the GIANTS’ defence.
With under 100 games of experience between the young defensive quartet before this season, the four have worked with premiership stars Josh Hunt and Heath Shaw to establish a solid back half.
“Both Mohry and Phil are big losses, they’re very critical to our line up but I think the two senior boys in Heath and Josh have come in and (Nick) Haynesy and (Sam) Frost have also stepped up,” Kennedy said.
“It’s been good for them to step up. hopefully we can get the other boys back but at the moment the other boys are doing well.”
Kennedy will be part of the GIANTS side to take on the Bulldogs in the club’s first Canberra home game of the season on Saturday afternoon and said he can’t wait to run out in front of the home crowd.
“It’s very exciting, the boys love playing in Canberra,” Kennedy said.
“It’s always a good feel when you’re out there, it’s a good atmosphere so hopefully there’s as many people (as possible) can come down to the game.
“They were really good (last week), the Bulldogs, so they’re in good form so it’s going to be a really good game, something everyone’s really looking forward to.”
With the GIANTS enjoying two wins to start the season and the Bulldogs notching their first in a tight tussle with the Tigers last week, Kennedy knows it will be a tough scrap on Saturday afternoon.
“Contested ball, I think they’re pretty focused on that at the moment and stoppages, they’re pretty good in stoppages, so it’s something both teams will be focusing on and it will be a key indicator for this week.”
Kennedy is one of a group of third-year GIANTS racing to the 50-game milestone this year, with the number 40 playing 37 games in just over two seasons of AFL football. With the club enjoying a bright start to the 2014 season, Kennedy is hoping the winning feeling continues.
“I’ve been lucky to play a few games over the the last few years and the start of the season has been pretty good,” he said.
“Obviously getting two wins is exciting for the club and hopefully we can just continue that form because it’s a pretty good feeling amongst the club at the moment.”
Known as the ‘Melton Mauler’ around the club in reference to his home town west of Melbourne, Kennedy wears the nickname with pride.
“I think Craig Lambert might have started it, I think I was on the Footy Show once day and he tweeted in to Billy Brownless and then it kicked off from there,” he said.
“It’s good, people hearing about Melton, it’s a lovely area, great place to grow up.”
Living with fellow third-year players Matt Buntine, Nick Haynes and Tim Golds in the inner west, Kennedy is loving life in Sydney.
“It’s a little bit different going from Melton to Rozelle, a bit of a different environment,” he said with a smile.
“It’s good fun with those guys and a really nice area so definitely not complaining.”
