‘Fuming’: Carlton fan-favourite shown door days after ugly treatment
Carlton fan-favourite Matthew Kennedy is reportedly one of three players shown the door just days after he was seen looking “filthy”.
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Matt Kennedy has reportedly been told he is free to leave Carlton.
The Blues star is one of three players that have reportedly been shown the door as the club prepares for a big Trade Period campaign.
Seven’s Mitch Cleary first reported Kennedy, Lewis Young and Matt Owies have been told to consider seeking a trade this off-season with disagreements over their best roles.
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The friction came to the surface during the Blues’ elimination final defeat to Brisbane where Kennedy was subbed out of the match in the second quarter in circumstances that left fans angry.
Carlton raised eyebrows when the club announced Tom De Koning would be the starting substitute for the Gabba clash and there was shock among some fans when coach Michael Voss elected to bring De Koning into the contest in place of Kennedy.
Kennedy was left visibly infuriated as he was handed the red vest and sat at the back of the interchange box.
The Blues midfielder made a last-minute dash to be with the team after his wife had given birth to their first child.
Kennedy was one of three Blues to play every game in 2024, but now wants to play more as an inside midfielder while Carlton wants him at half-forward, according to Cleary.
Kennedy is contracted until the end of 2025 while Young has another two years left to run on his deal but could move elsewhere.
The decision to offer Kennedy an exit reportedly came after a meeting with Voss last week.
“This isn’t Carlton driving him out… it’s a realisation that he’s stuck behind a few others in the inside midfield rotation,” Cleary posted on Twitter.
“And if he was to find another suitor he’s free to explore it.”
It has not gone unnoticed that the news comes just days after his benching in Brisbane.
Veteran sports commentator Tim Gossage wrote on X on the night: “Matthew Kennedy is fuming on the bench.
SEN’s Nic Negrepontis wrote: “Matt Kennedy doesn’t deserve that junk call. This has gotta be the worst high performance into list committee into match day coaching effort of the year.”
Carlton News & Stats added: “Not sure if anyone caught it, but Matthew Kennedy looked absolutely filthy sitting on the bench late in the 2nd term. I don’t blame him, at all.”
The Blues have already delisted five players including Jack Martin who could end up moving to a third AFL club.
Former million-dollar man Martin, David Cuningham, Caleb Marchbank, Alex Mirkov and Dom Akuei were not offered new contracts and were de-listed last week.
According to reports, clubs in Victoria and Perth are interested in signing Martin. He was sighted in Perth last week where it was reported he had undergone a medical test with Fremantle.
The club famously chased his signature hard during 2019 trade negotiations with Gold Coast, but injuries limited him to just 54 games across five seasons.
Originally published as ‘Fuming’: Carlton fan-favourite shown door days after ugly treatment
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