Veteran forward Kennedy said it’s been great seeing young players come through during a challenging season.
Despite a disappointing 25-point loss to Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday, Kennedy assures there are positive takeaways – including young players getting the opportunity to play at AFL level.
“We’ve been able to take some positives out of it with a lot of our youth coming through,” Kennedy told 6PR.
“We are playing some good footy that is getting closer to what our brand identity is, and we’ve got our young kids pushing through.
“If we keep putting that up every week, there will be more chances of winning.”
Mid-Season Rookie draftee Jai Culley joined the list of debuts this season becoming the 16th first-gamer for the club and the 47th player used.
Culley finished the game with an impressive 11 tackles and seven clearances through the midfield.
“He’s come in straight from the word go and he is working hard – you can see he has a bright future ahead and he’s very committed,” said Kennedy.
“We’ve got hopes for Jai to push through and have a great career at the West Coast Eagles.”
Brady Hough and Rhett Bazzo have also made promising starts to their careers this season.
“(Xavier) O'Neill was another one that I was really rapt with, the way he went about in the middle - he’s playing some good footy,” said Kennedy.
“Hough and Bazzo are doing really good at the moment so it’s pretty good to see those kids come through and be able to shine.”
With only five games left in the season, Kennedy said he is focusing week-by-week, putting any talk of retirement plans to the back of his mind.
“I’m just happy ticking over at the moment, it’s good to be able to play two in a row,” said Kennedy.
“I’m trying to soak up as much as I can at training and playing.”
The Eagles now hope to get their second win at home when they clash with St Kilda on Sunday.
Currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Elliot Yeo believes the team is ready for the challenge.
“Like us, their best is very good, and their worst is also not that good either,” Yeo told 96FM
“We’ve been playing consistently for three quarters so if we can pull together four, I reckon we can be a strong chance in taking the choccies.”
