Matthew Kennedy ready to help Patrick Cripps in Carlton’s midfield after injury-plagued 2018
After an injury-plagued first season in navy blue, Matthew Kennedy is back fit and firing and ready to make a big impact in the midfield for Carlton in 2019, starting with proving much-needed help for co-captain Patrick Cripps.
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A fit Matthew Kennedy says he is ready to step up and help give Patrick Cripps a “chop out” in the Carlton midfield this year as the Blues eye a “jump up the ladder”.
In his first season at Princess Park after being traded from Greater Western Sydney, Kennedy managed just 12 games last year due to a troublesome ankle.
However, surgery last August fixed that complaint, the onballer now setting himself for a big 2019.
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“When I first came to the club I had the two shoulders and then Round 1 I had the ankle which lingered around all year which I found a bit challenging,” Kennedy said.
“But body’s feeling great now. I’ve done all the pre-season training so far. I’m just excited to make up for last year and having a really good crack this year and staying injury free.”
Carlton co-captain Cripps was seen as a lone-ranger through the midfield for the side last season but Kennedy said he expected that to change.
“The player he (Cripps) is, he was able to do it by himself,” Kennedy said.
“But I think we’ve recruited very well as well. I’ve got my old mate ‘Setters’ (Will Setterfield) from Giants as well now and Sammy Walsh, Zac Fisher, there’s a few of us boys that have really started to ramp up the training.
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“I think there’s a lot more confidence in our midfield group to share that load and take a bit of him.”
Key recruit Mitch McGovern was not on the track as the Blues returned to training on Friday morning after a three-week Christmas break but has resumed running after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his back last month.
Asked what a pass mark would be for Carlton in 2019, Kennedy said the side was not putting too much expectation on itself but was confident of significant improvement on a two-win campaign last year.
“We’re just looking to improve on last year,” he said.
“We’re not putting a number on it but we’re working hard to jump up the ladder as quick as we can and I suppose in the last few years you’ve seen sides haven’t even made the eight and then following year are playing in the Grand Final so it shows how close the competition really is and if you’re willing to do the hard work there’s opportunity there to really jump.”
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