COLLINGULLIE footballer Matt Kennedy is ‘excited’ for what the future holds after officially becoming a Carlton player on Thursday.
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Greater Western Sydney (GWS) and Carlton agreed on a deal with less than an hour remaining in AFL’s trade period.
Kennedy was at lunch at The Duke of Kent Hotel when the news came through that he had been traded to the Blues for a second round pick, selection 28.
The 20-year-old cannot wait to get started at Carlton.
“It’s exciting and I’m very excited for the future,” Kennedy said.
“I can’t wait to actually get in there, meet the boys and get stuck into it.”
For Kennedy, it is a case of starting all over again after only being drafted to the Giants two years ago.
“It does feel like that, starting off again but it’s pretty exciting,” he said.
“I’m obviously sad to be leaving the Giants. I’ve made a lot of good friends there, and especially leaving Harry (Perryman).”
Perryman, a premiership teammate at Collingullie and a good mate, joined Kennedy at the Giants 12 months ago.
Kennedy said that made the move to Carlton more difficult.
“He’ll be right,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to get to play six games with him and we’ve always got that, and that will go down as one of my main footy memories when I’m finished.
“Now we’ll part ways but hopefully we’ll be back together at Collingullie one day.”
Kennedy played 16 games at the Giants this year, and 19 in total since being picked up with selection 13 in the 2015 Draft.
After being squeezed out at GWS due to the re-signings of Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield and Jacob Hopper, he has learnt the world of AFL football is a business.
“I was a bit disappointed there was no contract from the Giants but at the end of the day it is a business and they have got to look after themselves,” he said.
“I understand where they’re coming from and have no hard feelings to the Giants and am looking forward to going to Carlton.”
Kennedy was pursued by Carlton, Brisbane Lions, Essendon and Hawthorn before deciding on the Blues.
He said Carlton’s professionalism, culture and young list was what got him over the line.
“When you look at their list, it’s a very young and exciting list,” Kennedy said.
“It’s going to be good to be apart of the future there, it’s very exciting.
“They were very impressive and have a very good culture. That was the main thing.”
Meantime, former Henty and Ganmain youngster Sam Murray found a new home at Collingwood.
Murray has spent the past two seasons on Sydney’s rookie list after being picked up from Wodonga Raiders.
Collingwood received the 20-year-old as well as a fourth round selection in the 2017 National Draft and a future third-round selection in next year’s draft.
In exchange, Sydney received Collingwood’s future second-round selection for 2018.