Kennedy travelled back to Melbourne on Tuesday after more than six weeks on the farm due to AFL's COVID-19 enforced season suspension.

The 23-year-old enjoyed his time home as the combination of helping out with the busy sowing season and pitching in at the family business kept his mind off AFL football.

"It's been a pretty busy time on the farm at the minute, with sowing and what not," Kennedy explained.

"It feels like I haven't really been in isolation too much. I've been able to get out and about a bit, which has been good. It was good to see the family and spend a bit of time with them.

"In between sitting on the tractor, doing a bit of sheep work, being in the tile shop a bit, training as well, with Harry (Perryman) when he was back down here, it's been good. It's been a pretty enjoyable break to be honest."

The interruption to the AFL season may have been a blessing in disguise for Kennedy. He had just missed selection in Carlton's round one team after a groin injury forced him to sit out of two weeks worth of trial games and training.

"I missed out on selection for round one, which was pretty hard," he said.

"I suppose because of this whole isolation mode, missing round one, then coming back home, motivation levels were pretty low. But I think it's been good, coming back home, I got to spend a bit of time on the farm and what not. It kind of put everything back into perspective for me. How much I actually do enjoy playing footy and being in Melbourne, training with all of the boys. I'm starting to miss everyone, so I'm keen to get back there and get stuck into it."

The 2020 season always shaped as important one for Kennedy.

In his third season at Carlton, he was looking to pick up where he left off last season. After a slow start to 2019 through injury and form, Kennedy played in eight of the Blues' last nine games to finish the year with momentum.

He now heads into his third and final season of his contract at Carlton, which he concedes makes this year more important for him.

"I'm in my third year (at Carlton) now. It's gone so quick. I'm coming to the end of the contract this year so it's going to be interesting to see how it's going to pan out," Kennedy said.

"I wanted to have a really good year, put my hand up and I wanted to try and have early form so I could sign a contract sooner rather than later but the way it's panned out, unfortunately that hasn't happened.

"I'm not going to put too much expectation on myself, I won't worry about it too much. It's kind of out of my control at the minute. All I can really do is stay fit and healthy and when games come, try and perform. Show them what I've got.

"Until then, it's kind of a waiting game, especially with all the things you hear about whether there is not going to be a draft, or changes to the list sizes, there's still so much unknown. I'm trying not to think about it or stress about it too much, whatever happens, happens."

Kennedy admits he has been guilty of stressing too much about footy at times in the past. It is why he is not thinking too much about breaking into the Blues' team for round two, whenever that arrives.

"I'm really not trying to focus on it too much," he said.

"It's a bit hard, especially because we can't really train much before the first game. It's half looking like...we'll only get one training session together as a full team so it's hard to pick the teams off that.

"I've tried not to really worry about it too much. In the past I've stressed a lot about it and it's just so draining, the highs and lows of footy go up and down so I'm just trying to take it day by day and if I'm in, great, and if I'm not, I'll keep working hard and putting my hand up for Teaguey to hopefully select me."

Making selection harder for AFL footballers this year will be the decision not to allow them to play in state leagues.

Among the decisions made for the 2020 season is that there will now be no 'reserve grade' for AFL clubs.

Carlton was set to be in this position anyhow, after the decision to fold by their VFL affiliate Northern Blues.

Kennedy said it will make life tough for those outside the best 22.

"It's going to be hard, pretty mentally stressful and frustrating more than anything if you're not in the ones, to put your hand up for selection," he said.

"There's no go back and play well in the twos and put your hand up. It's only training really and how do you put your hand up from just training?

"It's going to be a very different year but I'm trying not to worry about it too much. Whatever happens, happens."

Don't mistake not stressing about footy as a lack of hunger from Carlton's number seven. He plans to arrive back in Melbourne with renewed enthusiasm and desire to make his mark on the AFL competition.

"I've definitely had a nice little freshen up," he said.

"Just to be able to come back home and forget about footy and stuff like that for a bit has made me hungry again I suppose. I've enjoyed it, but at the same time, now things have started to quiet down on the farm, I'm ready to head back and start playing footy again. I've been training for so long, I just want to start playing games."

Kennedy also believes the break had been good for his body as he looks to build on his 41-game AFL career.

"I've been able to freshen up the body again after the long, hard pre-season. I feel physically and mentally fresh, I guess," he said.

"After spending a bit of time on the farm and sitting on the tractor, I feel really good and confident in my body that I can get through a year, especially when we're playing back-to-back games because we'll have to get through the rounds.

"I'm confident I'm putting my body in a pretty good position where it can last and survive playing games with five-day breaks. I've been training well and looking after myself so I'm keen to get in there and show what I've got."

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