Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:Ben Kennedy (Australian rules footballer)

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Ben Kennedy
| image = Ben Kennedy 2015.JPG
| image_size = 215px
| alt = 
| caption = Kennedy at training in November 2015
| fullname = Benjamin Kennedy
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|3|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = 
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = {{SANFL Gle}} ([[South Australian National Football League|SANFL]])
| draftpick = No. 19, [[2012 AFL draft#2012 national draft|2012 national draft]]
| debutdate = [[2013 Collingwood Football Club season#Round 6|Round 6, 2013]]
| debutteam = {{AFL Col}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL StK}}
| debutstadium = [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG]]
| height = 175&nbsp;cm
| weight = 78&nbsp;kg
| position = [[Australian rules football positions#Forward line|Forward]] / [[Centre line (football)|midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| guernsey =
| years1 = 2013&ndash;2015
| club1 = {{AFL Col}}
| games_goals1 = 25 (15)
| years2 = 2016&ndash;2017
| club2 = {{AFL Mel}}
| games_goals2 = 15 (13)
| games_goalstotal = 40 (28)
| statsend = 2017
| careerhighlights = 
}}
'''Ben Kennedy''' (born 3 March 1994) is a former professional [[Australian rules football]]er who played for the [[Collingwood Football Club]] and [[Melbourne Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). A [[Australian rules football positions#Forward line|small forward]], {{convert|1.75|m|ftin}} tall and weighing {{convert|78|kg}}, Kennedy is able to contribute as a crumbing forward and is also capable of moving into the [[Centre line (football)|midfield]]. He played top-level football from a young age by representing [[South Australia]] from fifteen years of age, including as a bottom aged player in the [[2011 AFL Under 18 Championships]], and playing in {{SANFL Gle}}'s senior side in the [[South Australian National Football League]] (SANFL) at seventeen. His junior achievements included two-time selection in the under 18 [[All-Australian team|All-Australian]] side, a SANFL star search nomination, and selection in the South Australian under 18 team of the decade. He was recruited by the [[Collingwood Football Club]] with the nineteenth selection in the [[2012 AFL draft]] and he made his debut in the 2013 season. He played three seasons with Collingwood for a total of twenty-five matches before he was traded to Melbourne during the [[2015 AFL draft#Trades|2015 trade period]]. In October 2017, Kennedy was delisted by Melbourne after managing only 15 games in two seasons.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-10-02/melbourne-makes-further-list-change|title=Melbourne makes further list change|work=melbournefc.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref>

==Junior career==
Kennedy played his junior career with the [[Brighton Districts and Old Scholars Football Club|Brighton Bombers]] before moving to the [[Glenelg Football Club]] in the [[South Australian National Football League]] (SANFL);<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sanfl.com.au/files/_system/File/PDFs/2011/Footy%20Budget%20Round%2025%20low%20res.pdf|title=Young Guns Exploding onto the SANFL Stage|last=Argent|first=Peter|date=25 September 2011|work=Budget|publisher=[[South Australian National Football League]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> he attended [[Sacred Heart College (Adelaide)|Sacred Heart College]].<ref name=bidding>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/kennedy-to-spark-bidding-war/story-e6freckc-1226104118180|title=Kennedy to spark bidding war|last=Capel|first=Andrew|date=29 July 2011|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He received state honours by representing South Australia in the 2010 under 16 championships and he was their leading goalkicker with ten goals from three matches.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sacommunityfootball.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Newsletters/July_2010_newsletter.pdf|title=NAB AFL–UNDER 16 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS|work=Community Football|publisher=[[South Australian National Football League]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He made his SANFL debut for Glenelg at seventeen years of age in the opening round match in [[2011 SANFL season|2011]] against the [[Sturt Football Club]] at [[Glenelg Oval]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sanfl.championdata.com/matches/16950103/match.html|title=Round 1 match statistics|date=2 April 2011|work=Champion Data|publisher=[[South Australian National Football League]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He played fifteen matches for Glenelg in his debut season, kicking twelve goals<ref name=sanfl>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190805891&client=1-3289-35008-151909-14319776&ocompID=151909|title=Player Profile–Ben Kennedy|work=SANFL.com.au|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and he was named Glenelg's best player in round eight and twenty-two against Sturt and {{SANFL Por}} respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?action=MATCH&fixture=123029129&client=1-3289-35008-151909-14319776|title=Round 8 Sturt vs. Glenelg|date=20 May 2011|work=SANFL.com.au|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?action=MATCH&fixture=122855612&client=1-3289-35008-151909-14319776|title=Round 22 Glenelg vs. Port Adelaide|date=3 September 2011|work=SANFL.com.au|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He was named as the round eight Star Search nominee, which "recognises the talented youngsters making their mark in league ranks", where he recorded twenty-six disposals, five marks and four goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanfl.com.au/league/powerade_star_search/2011_powerade_star_search/|title=2011 Powerade Star Search|work=SANFL.com.au|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He received mid-year state honours through selection for South Australia in the [[2011 AFL Under 18 Championships]] as a bottom-aged player<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2011-06-11/wingard-leads-sa-to-big-win|title=Wingard leads SA to big win|last=Gill|first=Katrina|date=11 June 2011|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and his performances in the championships saw him rewarded with being named in the All-Australian team in the [[Australian rules football positions#Forward pocket|forward pocket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-3020-0-0-0&sID=69677&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=16273165|title=Under 18 All Australian Team|date=9 July 2011|work=TACCup.com.au|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

Throughout 2011, speculation arose as to whether Kennedy would be one of the two players selected in the [[2011 AFL draft#Mini-draft|2011 mini-draft]] with the [[Adelaide Football Club]] and [[Port Adelaide Football Club]] potentially bidding for him.<ref name=bidding/> Then Port Adelaide football operations manager, Peter Rohde praised his skills by indicating "there is no doubt he will be a good AFL player...he's an outstanding kick and clever around goal, and clearly we have an interest in him."<ref name=bidding/> AFL national talent manager, [[Kevin Sheehan]] noted he is a "powerful small forward with a penetrating left foot. He is a goal kicker with pace and ability to compete well in the air for his size."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dockernow.com/2011/09/13/omeara-heads-gws-mini-draft-pool/|title=O'Meara heads GWS mini-draft pool|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Docker Now|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He ultimately was not bid on for the 2011 mini-draft after the concession requested by {{AFL GWS}} was too high.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/2011-07-13/kennedy-deal-wont-happen|title=Kennedy deal 'won't happen'|last=Gill|first=Katrina|date=13 July 2011|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He received a scholarship within the prestigious [[Australian Institute of Sport|AIS-AFL Academy]] with their level two, thirty-one man squad for 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=47&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=439&cHash=317b1bb94ee89ea07f01c80291bf539f|title=2011 AIS-AFL Academy expands|date=18 August 2011|work=AFL Community|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

{{Quote box
 | quote  = He can be a game breaker – with three or four really good possessions he can hurt the opposition pretty quickly. He's got a pretty good engine and if given the opportunity in the midfield he can get high numbers.
 | source = '''Ken Applegarth, Glenelg football manager'''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2012-11-22/no-19-meet-new-small-forward-ben-kennedy|title=No. 19: Meet new small forward Ben Kennedy|last=Mason|first=Luke|date=22 November 2012|work=CollingwoodFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>
 | width  = 20%
 | align  = left
}}

Returning to Glenelg in 2012, he managed four matches for the season after being affected by a groin injury at the start of the season.<ref name=sanfl/><ref name=youngguns>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/young-guns-from-the-south-aiming-at-draft-20121120-29o3p.html|title=Kennedy deal 'won't happen'|last=Gill|first=Katrina|date=13 July 2011|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> After recruiters noted they wanted to see him spend more time in the midfield, he spent the year in a dual [[Follower (Australian rules football)|on-ball]], forward role.<ref name=youngguns/> He was again selected for South Australia in the [[2012 AFL Under 18 Championships]] where he had strong performances against Tasmania and Northern Territory, recording thirty-seven disposals and fours goals, and twenty-nine disposals and a goal respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2012-06-03/younger-menzel-inspires|title=Younger Menzel inspires|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=2 June 2012|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2012-06-10/goal-machine-menzel-fires-again-in-under18s|title=Goal machine Menzel fires again in Under-18s|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=10 June 2012|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He was named in the All-Australian side for the second consecutive season in the forward pocket.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2012-07-06/top-teams-dominate-under18s-all-australian-side|title=Top teams dominate Under-18s All Australian side|last=Phelan|first=Jason|date=6 July 2012|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> His two seasons in the under 18's with South Australia saw him named in the South Australian under 18 team of the decade 2007–2016 side in the forward pocket.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.westcoastsentinel.com.au/story/3948569/south-australian-under-18-team-of-the-decade-photos/?cs=4188|title=South Australian Under 18 team of the decade|last=Argent|first=Peter|date=4 June 2016|work=West Coast Sentinel|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

==AFL career==
===2013&ndash;2015: Early career with Collingwood===
After predictions Kennedy would be drafted inside the top twenty in the [[2012 AFL draft#2012 national draft|2012 national draft]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/2012-11-20/aflcomaus-phantom-draft|title=AFL.com.au's Phantom Draft|last=Twomey|first=Callum|date=20 November 2012|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/find-out-who-your-club-is-predicted-in-thursdays-national-afl-draft/story-fngeflq8-1226517613127|title=Find out who your club is predicted to take in tonight's national AFL draft|last1=Landsberger|first1=Sam|last2=Clark|first2=Jay|date=22 November 2012|work=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> he was recruited by the [[Collingwood Football Club]] with their second selection and nineteenth overall.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/sanfl-talent-in-demand-at-afl-draft/story-e6freckc-1226523160261|title=SANFL talent in demand at AFL draft|last=Capel|first=Andrew|date=23 November 2012|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He played in the round two and round three matches in the [[2013 NAB Cup]] against the [[West Coast Eagles]] and [[Brisbane Lions]] respectively,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-03/west-coast-v-collingwood-match-report|title=Impressive Pies press on against Eagles|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=3 March 2013|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and he was named the third best player for Collingwood against Brisbane,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-09/collingwood-v-brisbane-lions-match-report|title=Lions win through to NAB Cup final|last=Browne|first=Ashley|date=9 March 2013|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> where he recorded nineteen disposals, four marks and a goal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2013-03-10/a-game-in-the-life-of-ben-kennedy|title=A game in the life of Ben Kennedy|last=Mason|first=Luke|date=10 March 2013|work=CollingwoodFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He started the 2013 season playing for the Collingwood reserves in the [[Victorian Football League]] (VFL)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=196134369&client=1-118-10581-253880-18717711&ocompID=253880|title=Player Profile–Ben Kennedy|work=VFL.com.au|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and he made his AFL debut in the twenty-six point win against the [[St Kilda Football Club]] at [[Docklands Stadium|Etihad Stadium]] in round six.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/kennedy-keen-to-cement-his-place-with-magpies-20130615-2ob5u.html|title=Kennedy keen to cement his place with Magpies|date=16 June 2013|first=Sam|last=Lienert|work=[[The Age]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref> He was the [[Australian rules football positions#Substitute|substitute]] for the match and he was brought into the game in the third quarter and recorded eight disposals from 33 percent game time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/watch-the-video-as-ben-kennedy-made-a-frantic-dash-to-etihad-stadium-for-his-collingwood-debut/story-e6frf9kx-1226637106472|title=Watch the video as Ben Kennedy made a frantic dash to Etihad Stadium for his Collingwood debut|last=McFarlane|first=Glenn|date=7 May 2013|work=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He finished the season with twelve games, and he was the substitute in six matches,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2013-12-05/kennedy-hopeful-of-midfield-opportunities|title=I've enjoyed every second: Kennedy|last=Mason|first=Luke|date=5 December 2013|work=CollingwoodFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> he averaged 11.8 disposals and kicked nine goals<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2013-10-23/player-review-no-27-ben-kennedy|title=Player Review: No. 27 Ben Kennedy|last=Mason|first=Luke|date=23 October 2013|work=CollingwoodFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> with a season-best three goals in the [[Queen's Birthday Clash]] against the [[Melbourne Football Club]] in round eleven at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-10/melbourne-v-collingwood-match-report|title=Swan dominates as Magpies crush Demons|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=10 June 2013|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

Kennedy had a small delay to the 2014 pre-season when he had surgery to relieve the symptoms of [[compartment syndrome]] in his legs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/collingwood-forward-ben-kennedy-finding-his-feet-after-surgery-20140221-337p8.html|title=Collingwood forward Ben Kennedy finding his feet after surgery|last=Pierik|first=Jon|date=22 February 2014|work=[[The Age]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He played in the opening match of the season against the [[Fremantle Football Club]] at Etihad Stadium where he was the substitute and he replaced [[Martin Clarke]] in the third quarter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-14/dockers-crush-magpies|title=Ballantyne, Fyfe fire as Dockers crush Magpies|last=Bowen|first=Nick|date=14 March 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He was omitted from the side the next week<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2014-03-27/selection-white-to-debut-against-old-club|title=Selection: White to debut against old club|last=Chiarelli|first=Simon|date=27 March 2014|work=CollingwoodFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and despite strong performances in the VFL,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ben-kennedy-puts-hand-up-for-spot-in-pies-team-v-richmond-with-silky-vfl-display/story-fni5f6hd-1226875379703|title=Ben Kennedy puts hand up for spot in Pies team v Richmond with silky VFL display|last=Landsberger|first=Sam|date=5 April 2014|work=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> he played only one senior match in the next fourteen weeks where he was the late replacement for the injured [[Nick Maxwell]] in the round seven, thirty-four point win against the [[Carlton Football Club]] at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-02/match-report-carlton-v-collingwood|title=Pies push on as Blues leave it too late|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=2 May 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He returned to the senior side in the fifteen point win against Carlton in round fifteen as the substitute, again as a late replacement for an injured player,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-29/pies-sink-stubborn-blues-|title=Magpies hold off stubborn Blues to stay in top-four hunt|last=Bowen|first=Nick|date=29 June 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> he played five of the remaining eight matches, and he finished the season with eight matches in total and he was the substitute in five of the matches.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2014-09-15/player-review-no-7-ben-kennedy|title=Player Review: No. 7 Ben Kennedy|last=Mason|first=Luke|date=15 September 2014|work=CollingwoodFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

Kennedy struggled to gain senior selection in the first half of 2015 and his first senior match of the year was in the Queen's Birthday, twenty-five point win against Melbourne in round ten where he was the substitute.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-06-08/cloke-fires-as-pies-claim-fifth-straight-queens-birthday-win|title=Cloke fires as Pies claim fifth straight Queen's Birthday win|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=8 June 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> This prompted speculation in the middle of the year that he was on the outer and he may be traded at the end of the season to try and gain more senior selection.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-15/whos-on-the-outer|title=Who's on the outer, on the trade table, or off the list|last=Collins|first=Ben|date=15 July 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He managed five matches for the season<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-19/get-to-know-new-demon-ben-kennedy|title=Get to know: New Demon Ben Kennedy|last=Navaratnam|first=Dinny|date=19 October 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and after twenty five matches in total for Collingwood in three seasons,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-19/mega-trade-howe-seedsman-toumpas-and-kennedy-all-swap-clubs|title=Mega-trade: Howe, Seedsman, Toumpas and Kennedy all swap clubs|last=Bowen|first=Nick|date=19 October 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> he was traded to the Melbourne Football Club in October<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-trade-period-2015-jeremy-howe-goes-to-collingwood-in-fourway-trade-20151019-gkcucx.html|title=AFL trade period 2015: Jeremy Howe goes to Collingwood in four-way trade|last1=Gleeson|first1=Michael|last2=Quayle|first2=Emma|date=19 October 2015|work=[[The Age]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> even though he was contracted to Collingwood until the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2014-09-09/magpie-trio-pen-new-deals|title=Trio pen new deals|last=Rielly|first=Stephen|date=9 September 2014|work=CollingwoodFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He cited the opportunity for more senior games as the reason for his move to Melbourne.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-12-01/kennedy-aims-for-immediate-impact-with-demons|title=Kennedy aims for immediate impact with Demons|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=1 December 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-recruit-ben-kennedy-discusses-move-from-collingwood-20160328-gns7aw.html|title=Melbourne recruit Ben Kennedy discusses move from Collingwood|last=Cherny|first=Daniel|date=1 April 2016|work=[[The Age]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

===2016&ndash;2017: Move to Melbourne===
[[File:Ben Kennedy 2017.1.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Kennedy at training in March 2017]]
Kennedy played all three matches in the [[2016 NAB Challenge]] for his new club and he was named in the best players in the first match against the [[Port Adelaide Football Club]] at [[Elizabeth Oval]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-02-27/secondhalf-blitz-helps-demons-run-over-power|title=Second-half blitz helps Demons run over Power|last=Thring|first=Harry|date=27 February 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and his performances in the NAB Challenge saw ''AFL Media'' journalist, Travis King, predict he would  play his first match for Melbourne in round one.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-13/dees-stay-undefeated|title=Dees' belief building as win over Saints maintains perfect record|last=King|first=Travis|date=13 March 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He ultimately played the round one match against {{AFL GWS}} in a two-point win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-03-24/round-one-team|title=Round one team selection|last=Harrington|first=Anna|date=24 March 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He was praised for his match which was labelled as impressive,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-26/demons-now-capable-of-changing-games-with-key-coaching-moves|title=Demons' stirring win was two years in the making: Roos|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=26 March 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and he was named as Melbourne's second best player by ''AFL Media''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-26/demons-stun-with-final-term-burst-to-cut-down-greater-western-sydney|title=Hogan leads late charge as Dees cut down Giants|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=26 March 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He played the first ten matches before being omitted for the match against the [[Hawthorn Football Club]] at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in round eleven.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-02/melbourne-makes-five-changes|title=Melbourne makes five changes|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=2 June 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He played in the VFL for Melbourne's [[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|affiliate team]], the [[Casey Scorpions]], where he recorded thirty disposals, ten tackles and three goals,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-08/vfl-player-review-round-nine|title=VFL player review: round nine|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=8 June 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and he was brought back into the senior side the next week for the Queen's Birthday match against Collingwood.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-11/viney-kennedy-named-in-final-22|title=Viney, Kennedy named in final 22|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=11 June 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-14/qb-clash-circled-early-for-kennedy|title=QB clash circled early for Kennedy|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=14 June 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He played the next five matches before being dropped for the round eighteen match against West Coast at [[Subiaco Oval|Domain Stadium]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-22/round-18-teams-announced|title=Teams: Young Tiger returns, Bomber rested|last1=King|first1=Travis|last2=Malcolm|first2=Alex|date=22 July 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> He played the remainder of the season for Casey and he played in the losing grand final against {{VFL Foo}} at [[Docklands Stadium|Etihad Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-21/casey-scorpions-teams-round-16|title=Casey Scorpions teams: round 16|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=21 July 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-09-22/casey-scorpions-gf-team|title=Casey Scorpions Grand Final team|date=22 September 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=26 September 2016}}</ref> He played fifteen matches in his first season for Melbourne, which resulted in a twenty-first place finish in the [[best and fairest]] count.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-09-06/viney-edges-jones-to-win-first-bluey|title=Viney edges Jones to win first 'Bluey'|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=6 September 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref> After not managing a senior game in [[2017 AFL season|2017]], Kennedy was delisted by Melbourne.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-10-02/melbourne-makes-further-list-change|title=Melbourne makes further list change|work=melbournefc.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref>

==Statistics==
: ''Statistics are correct to the end of the 2017 season''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ben Kennedy|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/B/Ben_Kennedy.html|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=2 September 2014}}</ref>
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2013 AFL season|2013]]
| {{AFL Col}} || 27 || 12 || 9 || 6 || 66 || 75 || 141 || 20 || 20 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 5.5 || 6.3 || 11.8 || 1.7 || 1.7
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2014 AFL season|2014]]
| {{AFL Col}} || 7 || 8 || 4 || 2 || 54 || 44 || 98 || 11 || 15 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 6.8 || 5.5 || 12.3 || 1.4 || 1.9
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2015 AFL season|2015]]
| {{AFL Col}} || 7 || 5 || 2 || 2 || 32 || 23 || 55 || 9 || 11 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 6.4 || 4.6 || 11.0 || 1.8 || 2.2
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2016 AFL season|2016]]
| {{AFL Mel}} || 35 || 15 || 13 || 6 || 128 || 131 || 259 || 47 || 39 || 0.9 || 0.4 || 8.5 || 8.7 || 17.2 || 3.1 || 2.6
|-  style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2017 AFL season|2017]]
| {{AFL Mel}} || 35 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 40
! 28
! 16
! 280
! 273
! 553
! 87
! 85
! 0.7
! 0.4
! 7.0
! 6.8
! 13.8
! 2.2
! 2.1
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Melbplayer}}
*{{AFL Tables|ref=B/Ben_Kennedy.html}}
*{{Twitter|id=benkennedy35}}

{{2012 AFL national draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Ben}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:Collingwood Football Club players]]
[[Category:Melbourne Football Club players]]
[[Category:Glenelg Football Club players]]
[[Category:Brighton Districts and Old Scholars Football Club players]]
[[Category:Casey Demons players]]
[[Category:Williamstown Football Club players]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from South Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at Sacred Heart College, Adelaide]]
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