Past #36: Ayden Kennedy - delisted at the end of the 2013 season

[BoomerBrownlow_29]

It's a bit funny that they didn't do a report last week and just ignored he who must not be named this week.

There was definitely a report last week as there has been every week this year - http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2013-09-02/currie-stands-tall

 

[Passmore]

Guys the size of AK, who can move like he does do not grow on trees. Personally I think he more of a third tall/flanker than KPD.

He probably will get delisted, but I'd like to see us follow this one through. On physical attributes alone he is half a chance.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Guys the size of AK, who can move like he does do not grow on trees. Personally I think he more of a third tall/flanker than KPD..

Seems that way.

 

[Daz]

There was definitely a report last week as there has been every week this year - http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2013-09-02/currie-stands-tall

Don't know how I missed it, sorry mate. It's my favourite weekly feature of the site. The coach comments have been a great addition.

 

[Mr Reliable]

Guys the size of AK, who can move like he does do not grow on trees. Personally I think he more of a third tall/flanker than KPD.

He probably will get delisted, but I'd like to see us follow this one through. On physical attributes alone he is half a chance.

I like his confidence. It's a difficult commodity to find in young players.

 

[The Nostradamus]

I don't think he will be on any afl list next year, will probably be at a vfl team.

 

[King Corey]

VFL report definitely reads like a reference for future employers.

More from a perspective of helping him find a home than driving his value up.

 

[Tas]

Sad if that is his fate.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

If spud retires and Delaney leaves then Kennedy should stay

 

[nicko74]

He should be given the opportunity to take Firritos spot even if Firrito plays on. Firrito can provide the depth/backup that we need. If what people say is true about AK, sounds like he can play on both smalls and talls.

 

[curiousLplater]

I watched some of the game yesterday and was wondering why AK doesnt get a game. I will admit though I havent seen a lot of Werribe games so cant really comment on his year. (and I havent read all of this post either)
Is he going to be one of these players thats stars in the VFL but cant produce on the big stage? There were a lot of those guys playing out there yesterday that have had chances but didnt go anywhere - funnily a lot of them named Ben - McKinley, Warren, Speight, Ross

Never had a chance to prove otherwise KF.

Wouldn't have thought that trade value can be increased by comments - surely clubs watch the players they have any interest in, especially in a final.

Absolutely EH, people are just reading too much into this. There have been a few good articles written on his form.

 

[Passmore]

He should be given the opportunity to take Firritos spot even if Firrito plays on. Firrito can provide the depth/backup that we need. If what people say is true about AK, sounds like he can play on both smalls and talls.

Lachie has more or less taken Spuds role as the third tall. Presuming that Keys goes, if Kennedy was to stay he'd be next in line after Cam Delaney.

 

[Rooboy 96]

A very similar situation happened at St Kilda a couple of years ago with Tommy Walsh

Looked like a star in the reserves and lots of Saints supporters were upset that Walsh wasn't getting a game over an underperforming Jason Blake. He of course left at the end of the year to Sydney for more opportunity (much to the disappointment of Saints supporters) and we know how that turned out.

It goes to show that these are professional AFL coaches and they know what they are doing, it's easy enough to go to Werribee games and see him perform well. But these are guys who see him at training every day, and who give him set targets to achieve during reserves games. From the outside it may look like he deserves to get a game, but on the inside it could look completely different.

I'd back this as more likely being similar to a Tommy Walsh situation, then Brad Scott having a hidden agenda.

I remember in the early 90s bitching about a bloke called Troy Polak never getting a game, could this kid take a mark (every bloody week), we traded him to Freo he never got through pre-season and we ended up with a Premiership Hero in Glenn Freeborn. Sometimes the coaches do know best.

 

[Tas]

I remember in the early 90s bitching about a bloke called Troy Polak never getting a game, could this kid take a mark (every bloody week), we traded him to Freo he never got through pre-season and we ended up with a Premiership Hero in Glenn Freeborn. Sometimes the coaches do know best.

It could be that you are just a lousy judge.

Only joking. There is no precise science to it, a lot is gut feel really. But, you watch him play and you can see the traits of a good footballer, not all guys show them when they play at VFL level. Not everyone I think can play and shows something at junior level goes on with it, at the end of the day the player has to take the bull by the horns and aggressively take the opportunity they have.

Kennedy can play, if there is something that is preventing him from taking the next step then our staff has to do a better job of helping him take the next step. If he doesn't make it and we cut him loose and he never plays footy again it is just a waste, it doesn't make the club right, it is very hard to get the opportunity, let alone a second chance and the kids have a lot of issues to deal with, if it was easy then everyone would be AFL grade players.

Question is what are we doing to make him AFL standard? Trotter was given more of a go and I saw nothing in him other than his ability to kick long inaccurately. Some players are cringeworthy and get more of a go, what is it about him that he isn't given a crack?

 

[BlakeDebeljak]

North seem's to be a team on the rise, with a potential finals (dare I say grand final) future ahead of us.
So you would think that there would be players interested in making there way to North.
Which is why this whole Delaney situation confuses me. Does he not really care about that window opening? Or does he not see himself playing in it or making a big impact?

I think Firrito has had a good time at North, but when it comes to retaining a 30 year old who has a game style that can be replaced by Scott Mcmahon, compared to a Key positioned, younger and built defender in Delaney, I'm a little puzzled.

I enjoyed not seeing our Backline being bullied this year by big and experience teams. So when a big key player like Thompson or Grima goes down with injury, having Luke Delaney there really helped our security down back opposed to having a younger, scrawnier defender.

I know my opinion might be wrong but I hope it may make a little sense to others.

 

[Rooboy 96]

It could be that you are just a lousy judge.

Only joking. There is no precise science to it, a lot is gut feel really. But, you watch him play and you can see the traits of a good footballer, not all guys show them when they play at VFL level. Not everyone I think can play and shows something at junior level goes on with it, at the end of the day the player has to take the bull by the horns and aggressively take the opportunity they have.

Kennedy can play, if there is something that is preventing him from taking the next step then our staff has to do a better job of helping him take the next step. If he doesn't make it and we cut him loose and he never plays footy again it is just a waste, it doesn't make the club right, it is very hard to get the opportunity, let alone a second chance and the kids have a lot of issues to deal with, if it was easy then everyone would be AFL grade players.

Question is what are we doing to make him AFL standard? Trotter was given more of a go and I saw nothing in him other than his ability to kick long inaccurately. Some players are cringeworthy and get more of a go, what is it about him that he isn't given a crack?

I am a lousy judge (I wont repeat what I thought of Stevo after his first game). Trotter was a first round pick that got 7 games over 4 years, only got a slightly better crack.

 

[Rooboy 96]

North seem's to be a team on the rise, with a potential finals (dare I say grand final) future ahead of us.
So you would think that there would be players interested in making there way to North.
Which is why this whole Delaney situation confuses me. Does he not really care about that window opening? Or does he not see himself playing in it or making a big impact?

I think Firrito has had a good time at North, but when it comes to retaining a 30 year old who has a game style that can be replaced by Scott Mcmahon, compared to a Key positioned, younger and built defender in Delaney, I'm a little puzzled.

I enjoyed not seeing our Backline being bullied this year by big and experience teams. So when a big key player like Thompson or Grima goes down with injury, having Luke Delaney there really helped our security down back opposed to having a younger, scrawnier defender.

I know my opinion might be wrong but I hope it may make a little sense to others.

small fish big pond at North, big fish small pond at St Kilda, he could be part of a premiership team at North, he has no faith in either his ability or in getting a regular game and he could be right but it will take a decade for him to have the same chance at St Kilda.

 

[G0ther00s]

What are you all smoking? According to this he was very inconsitent and certainly not knocking the door down, a lot of 'ok's' and 'average but good final term'. A positive sign was a finish to the year was a lot better than the way he started perhaps due to injury.

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/115955/Ayden-KENNEDY

 

[Ahern2Boof]

#36 Ayden Kennedy

Summary
In his fourth season at the club, the man with the longest neck in the AFL still couldn't break through for a maiden senior appearance, spending the year at VFL level for the Werribee Tigers. Drafted as a forward, Kennedy continued his transition into a defensive player, becoming a backline general for Werribee and impressing with his sure foot skills and speed. With the ability to play both tall and small, Kennedy loomed as a possible replacement for one of Michael Firrito or Scott McMahon, who were both dropped due to poor form, but alas Kennedy still couldn't find a spot in the best 22. At the conclusion of the season, Kennedy is highly likely to be delisted, and will look for another club to continue what looms to be a promising career. His presence at the club will be missed, as well as his neck. I mean, just look at it.

Quote:Coaches often state that ‘attack starts from defence’, and that was no exception for Werribee on Sunday. North-listed backman Ayden Kennedy was pivotal during the second half of the Tigers’ 40-point defeat of Casey.​

http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2013-09-09/k...des-tigers

Quote:Ayden Kennedy hasn’t had an easy journey in his four years at Aegis Park. The 21-year-old has had a string of injuries and is yet to make his AFL debut, but he’s not giving up.​

http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2013-06-28/k...afl-brand-

Quote:DEFENDER Ayden Kennedy is hopeful of finding a new AFL home after being told by North Melbourne he is set to be delisted.​

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-20/un...-be-traded

 

[Hunters Host #3]

Kennedy -Long-neck.
Urquhart - Little head.
Horse - Football ability :stern look.

 

[Maddox]

Only ever say AK play once and I thought he was impressive. There was rarely a positive comment about him in the weekly VFL write-ups though. He is still young so plenty of time for him even if it's with another club.

 

[NiceCunnington]

Anyone know how he went in the Werribee B & F?

Thought he was pretty impressive in the finals. Hope he finds a new home.

Edit: Found it. 9th in the Werribee B & F. Polled votes in 6 of his 20 games. Never polled in two consecutive games. I think that's the mystery solved for everyone flabbergasted that he wasn't getting a game.

 

[Jay-Z]

Anyone know how he went in the Werribee B & F?

Thought he was pretty impressive in the finals. Hope he finds a new home.

Edit: Found it. 9th in the Werribee B & F. Polled votes in 6 of his 20 games. Never polled in two consecutive games. I think that's the mystery solved for everyone flabbergasted that he wasn't getting a game.

Quite possibly. I also read this article about how Mullett broke into the team and couldn't help but think the same advice was probably given to Ayden and he didn't take to it as well as Fishy did. For those who CBF reading the article, essentially the advice was "Defend first, attack second. You can have a great game offensively but it doesn't mean squat unless you also had a great game defensively". Every time I watched Kennedy in the VFL this year (admittedly only 4-5 times) his attack was great but he had those defensive lapses that let his man get an easy goal.

 

[NiceCunnington]

The club really copped it badly on here for not playing Kennedy. There were a few other threads similar to this one.

Not only did people see him as worthy of a best 22 spot, they saw him as a future superstar. On page 1 of this thread Pykie gave the club a hell of a spray and rated Kennedy as highly as Atley and Mullett.

There were some conspiracy theories: Ayden must have signed up with another club already, so that's why they aren't playing him.

Werribee B&F and the drafts will be interesting.

His situation was a bit of a mystery to me—when I saw him he looked ok, but certainly nothing special—so I thought these events would shed a bit of light on the reality. If he was banging the door down so hard in the VFL, surely he'd poll well in the B&F, being an AFL listed player who played most games. The Werribee coaches would have no reason to be in on the conspiracy. And if he was such a gun, another club would snap him up in the national draft or at least rookie him.

He finished 9th in the Bruce Montgomery Trophy, never polling in consecutive games. He played a vote-worthy game about once a month. All clubs overlooked him in the drafts.

Is it safe to say that he was overrated? Just not that good? Or do people still think the club are complete idiots who will have egg all over their faces in 2014?

 

[Daz]

curiousLplater

Account Cancelled by User


Clearly Ayden is not impressed.