#62 Welcome to the Bulldogs Luke Kennedy

[Testekill]

STRENGTHS:

• Clean hands
• Defensive running
• Dual-footed
• Endurance

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Outside game
• Speed

Not many players win senior best and fairests at 16-years-old. It's an honour Luke Kennedy has under his belt, doing so at Ormond last year. The midfielder also racked up enough votes to place second in Sandringham's count this year having made great strides in the back-end of his top-age campaign.

Kennedy is a terrific user of the ball, boasting a clean set of hands and great vision to get him out of trouble. He also has the benefit of being extremely dual-footed, proving a natural footballer who is fleet of thought. Those traits, along with his endurance, make up for his lack of explosive pace.

While tested out on a wing early in the year, Kennedy truly thrived when given the opportunity to run through the Dragons' engine room. His defensive accountability allowed others to shine on the way forward, and he got his own hands on the ball to be an underrated figure in the region's third-consecutive premiership.

Having only confirmed his running capacity with a 6:09 2km time trial at the state draft combine, Kennedy is firming as a late-draft smokey, despite not getting a run with Vic Metro. Improvement will come in his speed and outside game, though he is a hard worker and effective ball user already.

DRAFT RANGE: Late/Rookie

 

[Testekill]

Defensively accountable inside midfielder is nice, 6:09 in the 2km is fairly strong too.

 

[weltschmerz]

The sleeper in this year's AFL Draft who could be a gun midfielder down the road

“He’s going to get picked in the 40s or 50s I think and he’s going to end up being a really good player.”

www.sen.com.au

The 181cm Sandringham Dragons midfielder is rated as being able to kick on both feet, clean hands and a two-way endurance runner.
SEN’s 2024 Phantom Draft has him falling to GWS at pick 63 and Harding is bullish about what he could become at AFL level.
“I will have to go into my own region (to answer this), but I have a player at the Dragons named Luke Kennedy who played senior footy as a 15-year-old, won the best and fairest in the seniors as a 16-year-old and just happened to be in a year where the top midfielders were Levi Ashcroft, Jagga Smith, Josh Smillie, Murphy Reid – they were probably preordained from 12-18 months ago,” Harding told SEN’s Sportsday.

 

[Pugz89]

STRENGTHS:

• Clean hands
• Defensive running
• Dual-footed
• Endurance

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Outside game
• Speed

Not many players win senior best and fairests at 16-years-old. It's an honour Luke Kennedy has under his belt, doing so at Ormond last year. The midfielder also racked up enough votes to place second in Sandringham's count this year having made great strides in the back-end of his top-age campaign.

Kennedy is a terrific user of the ball, boasting a clean set of hands and great vision to get him out of trouble. He also has the benefit of being extremely dual-footed, proving a natural footballer who is fleet of thought. Those traits, along with his endurance, make up for his lack of explosive pace.

While tested out on a wing early in the year, Kennedy truly thrived when given the opportunity to run through the Dragons' engine room. His defensive accountability allowed others to shine on the way forward, and he got his own hands on the ball to be an underrated figure in the region's third-consecutive premiership.

Having only confirmed his running capacity with a 6:09 2km time trial at the state draft combine, Kennedy is firming as a late-draft smokey, despite not getting a run with Vic Metro. Improvement will come in his speed and outside game, though he is a hard worker and effective ball user already.

DRAFT RANGE: Late/Rookie

Our future wing with endurance and defensive running capabilities? From the write up, he's almost a Macrae replacement?

 

[Doggies7]

Earlier this month, foxfooty.com.au asked some of the top players in this year’s AFL draft pool to nominate a ‘bolter’ prospect who they’d be prepared to use a first-round pick on.

Sandringham Dragons forward Harry Armstrong said: “I think Luke Kennedy from Sandy. He’s a two-way runner and he’s the best kick in the team.”

 

[Doggies7]

Like this pick a lot too. Just seems like a really solid young inside mid. Great skills, good size and composure and just a natural midfielder who I think will impress at VFL level next year. Probably not a super high ceiling guy, but a high floor and someone that fills a definite need for us as a developing midfielder with good skills.

 

[Wizard17]

He is developed enough I reckon he could probably play a few games next year

 

[Bulldogs85]

2024 Telstra AFL Draft: Pick 62 – Luke Kennedy

The Bulldogs have welcomed the speedy midfielder with Pick 62 in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

 

[maddog37]

Speedy!!

 

[Dogs Rule]

A mid with elite skills. Yes please and thank you

 

[Wizard17]

A mid with elite skills. Yes please and thank you

And a very good defensive runner. God we needed that

 

[VitalDread]

With Harmes and now two Kennedy's

Dogs have really addressed their defensive mid roles

 

[blagodellago]

Looks and plays a little like Andy Brayshaw (from the single match highlights video I watched)

Go well Luke

 

[DiamondDogs8]

2nd place in Sandy’s BnF and won the equivalent for most courageous/fiercest player. Nice late pick up. Seemed to have a few fans on here and was likened to Neal-Bullen if I remember correctly?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

The Doggies will be my 2nd team while this young lad is on your list. As a fellow Ormond teammate and one of his high school teachers all I can say is you guys have the best kid in the draft. May not be the most talented there is but he's one of the nicest and hardest working kids you'll ever meet and comes from a fantastic family and group of friends.

Best of luck and hope like hell Bevo doesn't go full blown Bevo on him.

 

[Pugz89]

The Doggies will be my 2nd team while this young lad is on your list. As a fellow Ormond teammate and one of his high school teachers all I can say is you guys have the best kid in the draft. May not be the most talented there is but he's one of the nicest and hardest working kids you'll ever meet and comes from a fantastic family and group of friends.

Best of luck and hope like hell Bevo doesn't go full blown Bevo on him.

Prove it. Buy a membership jk. Nah, he seems a ripper and plenty on here were keen on him leading into the draft. Hope he makes a fair go of the opportunity.

 

[Wizard17]

Prove it. Buy a membership jk. Nah, he seems a ripper and plenty on here were keen on him leading into the draft. Hope he makes a fair go of the opportunity.

I was certainly one after watching some of his highlights. Read a few articles and watched an interview and really wanted him after that. Glad we have him onboard and hope he does well.

 

[Pugz89]

I was certainly one after watching some of his highlights. Read a few articles and watched an interview and really wanted him after that. Glad we have him onboard and hope he does well.

Ever since you wanted Toby McLean prior to that draft, I learnt to trust you a bit more.

 

[Wizard17]

Ever since you wanted Toby McLean prior to that draft, I learnt to trust you a bit more.

Also liked Lipinski who is alright

 

[Pugz89]

Also liked Lipinski who is alright

Tobes was my guy. I was on him from the start tbh. Lipinski was more romance for me, as a Dogs fan.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Prove it. Buy a membership jk. Nah, he seems a ripper and plenty on here were keen on him leading into the draft. Hope he makes a fair go of the opportunity.

Ha! I said I was a high school teacher... It's hard enough affording enough beers to put the weeks of misery behind me let alone buy a second membership!

 

[grassman75]

Ha! I said I was a high school teacher... It's hard enough affording enough beers to put the weeks of misery behind me let alone buy a second membership!

You could always get a second job during all your holidays….ducks head

 

[Mofra]

I was certainly one after watching some of his highlights. Read a few articles and watched an interview and really wanted him after that. Glad we have him onboard and hope he does well.

Yep kudos, pretty sure you were the first to name him on the draft thread.

 

[TiAn_]

Can run all day, composed and a clean kick off both feet. If he doesn’t make it as a mid he might still grow into another role at AFL level in time, with those attributes.

 

[King Harold]

I was certainly one after watching some of his highlights. Read a few articles and watched an interview and really wanted him after that. Glad we have him onboard and hope he does well.

You made me go look as well Wiz
Must admit I had forgotten about him, but very happy with what he might bring.