“IT’S GREAT fun.”

It’s a simple explanation of what it’s like being part of the midfield group, but it is being reflected in the way Matthew Kennedy is playing his football.

Kennedy committed his future to the Navy Blue on Wednesday, when it was announced the revitalised on-baller had signed a three-year extension at IKON Park.

It was a deserved reward for Kennedy, who has risen from the fringes of selection and one-year contracts at the end of the season to now be a vital cog in Carlton’s heartbeat.

AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss shared a story about the recently re-signed Blue, mentioning that he told the 25-year-old there were only two inside midfield spots available: an opportunity he has grasped with both hands.

Answering fan questions for Carlton Media, Kennedy said the bond he had created with all of his teammates so far was something driving his current form.

“We’ve got terrific boys in there,” Kennedy said.

“I think we’re all just happy for one another and we’re really pushing along, driving standards and pushing each other in training. We’re working hard and it’s good to get a few of the rewards on game day.

“At the start of the year, [Voss] said there were probably only two genuine inside midfielders that were playing and one of them was ‘Crippa’, so there wasn’t a lot going for me!

“I knew I had to knuckle down and work hard. Fortunately enough, there’s a few of us in there now and working well together so hopefully I can hold my spot.”

Kennedy also singled out the influence of the AFL Senior Coach, who stressed the importance of a clean slate when he first arrived at the Club.

As someone who found inside in and out of the team since arriving on the eve of the 2018 season, it was the catalyst Kennedy needed over the summer.

He also cited the impact of two other members of the Club’s Football department that had been crucial for him.

“When he came into the Club and the way he presented, he spoke a lot about building trust and having a really open approach and that no one had nailed their spot: he inspired a lot of players,” he said.

“Especially myself, it didn’t matter about what had happened in the past but to come to pre-season ready to train and work hard.

“Seeing Tarah [Kavanagh] the psychologist has been really helpful for me in realising that football isn’t everything, that was a really big contributor.

“Working with Luke Power when he got to the Club has been excellent for me and my football growth.”