A STIRRING second half of the season will have Carlton full of confidence with 2019 coming to a close.
Familiar faces fired in Navy Blue while the Club’s emerging youngsters owned the future in a campaign which saw the Blues record seven wins for the year.
With the home-and-away season now over, we’re going through every player who featured for Carlton at senior level in 2019.
Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No. 7, Matthew Kennedy.
GAMES
2019: 10
Career: 41
GOALS
2019: 11
Career: 21
KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):
Disposals: 107 (10.7) Marks: 27 (2.7) Contested possessions: 54 (5.4) Disposal efficiency: 71 per cent Score involvements: 40 (4)
OVERVIEW
Matthew Kennedy found himself a spot in the Blues’ best 22 following an impressive finish to his 2019 campaign.
The former Giant had a slow start to his second year in Navy Blue, with injury delaying his first senior game until Round 10 against St Kilda.
But a new home brought about a change in form for Kennedy, who turned into a reliable avenue to goal in the season’s final months.
In the absence of Charlie Curnow, the 22-year-old kicked 11 goals from Round 15 onwards — the equal-most at the Club alongside Levi Casboult.
BEST PERFORMANCE
Kennedy took his opportunities in the back half of the season, with his best return coming against Gold Coast.
The young Blue was one of many to bring their A-game against the Suns, with the hosts posting their first lot of back-to-back wins since 2017.
The opportunistic Kennedy proved the difference forward, kicking a career-best four goals in the 24-point win.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT
Carlton’s No.7 stood up at an important time in enemy territory during that memorable win against Fremantle at Optus Stadium in Round 15.
Five points down midway through the third quarter, Kennedy came up trumps with a crafty snap to give the Blues the lead.
He equalled the feat in the final term, producing a clutch set shot from outside 50 with five minutes remaining. It would prove to be Carlton’s finest moment of 2019, coming away with a four-point win in the West.
THEY SAID IT
After his successful move to the forward line, senior coach David Teague was full of praise for Kennedy and his ability to play the role for the team.
"He played centre-half forward as a junior in senior footy out in the country, but he was only about 15 or 16 (years old),” Teague said.
"He presents well at the ball, he's a beautiful kick and he has ended up getting quite a few shots over the last month, so he's been valuable for us."
