BACK at it. 

Matt Kennedy struggled with injury throughout 2023 but is looking to have a strong and uninterrupted pre-season heading into 2024. 

Training with his customary midfield group, Kennedy has noticed a lot of up-and-coming players filing through the midfield, with the team coming back in better than ever condition. 

“There are a lot of good young kids coming up: big Ollie and ‘Binnsy’, they’re both put on a little bit more weight and are training the house down,” Kennedy said, speaking on the Summer Sessions podcast.

“Young Billy [Wilson] who we just drafted is looking super fit and strong, he can go through there and he’s been training with us at the moment and Elijah, he’s running unreal.”

Kennedy - who is heading into his ninth AFL season - couldn’t be happier with the current personnel in the midfield group, noting the competition for spots has never been higher, which is bringing training to a new intensity level. 

With that in mind, the 26-year-old recognises the special relationship that a team needs to have to be able to stay close with one another whilst also fighting for their spot in the best team come game day. 

“To the individual's credit, to have so many guys that are so close fighting for the same spot – we speak a lot about making each other a better teammate, if we’re close and still fighting for the same spot, we’re only making each other better,” he said. 

“I think we all get along really well, we’re all hungry to motivate each other but we’re also happy for everyone’s success which is pretty unique and special that we’re close enough to be able to do that.”

There’s no confusion from the coaches when it comes to expectations at training, with crystal-clear clarity on what players should be doing to put their best foot forward.

With the leaders of the team also driving the standards by example, Kennedy said the group is more connected and on the same page than ever before. 

“It comes from the top down and the messages you’re given. I think ‘Vossy’ and the coaches have been unbelievable at saying ‘whoever works the hardest and is performing will get rewarded’,” he said. 

“‘Crippa’, ‘Weiters’ and ‘Walshy', they set a very high standard and when the blokes at the top are working as hard as anyone, it just filters down."

Kennedy and the Blues know that it takes more than your best 22 to achieve the ultimate prize.

He notes that having the whole squad - and wider club - buying into the same mindset and values can only strengthen their relationships on and off the field.

"It’s not just the 22: you need a lot of depth, because of injury and form and so many different reasons, you need a lot of players to get there," he said.

"That comes with blokes working hard but it also comes with blokes being happy and humble enough to say ‘right, I’m not there yet and I need to get better’, which is a credit to the group."

The newest edition of the Summer Sessions podcast with Matthew Kennedy will air tomorrow morning.