From the moment the champion spearhead nailed six goals in the opening pre-season game against Essendon it was crystal clear there was still plenty of life left in those (now) 33-year-old legs. Starved of opportunity early in the season as West Coast struggled to adapt to shortened matches, Kennedy was soon back to his brilliant best back in Perth, helping to inspire an eight-game winning streak. Between rounds 7-9 he dismantled Fremantle, Collingwood and Geelong with 15 goals and was back in the hunt for a third Coleman Medal. A bout of concussion against Richmond in round 14 which cost him the following match, followed by an ankle injury in round 18, scuppered those chances. Most importantly, he was fit for the elimination final, and combined with twin tower Jack Darling for six goals. It was a rare West Coast loss with both big guns firing up forward. At season’s end, Kennedy claimed the Leading Goalkicker Award for the seventh time with 34 majors and signed a one-year deal to play on in 2021, when he should pass the 250-game mark as an Eagle (currently 238).
Standout performance: Shooting down the Magpies
A week after claiming the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the RAC Derby after kicking 4.4, the big full-forward was at his deadliest. Faced with what was billed West Coast’s toughest test for the season so far in round eight against Collingwood, the Eagles rose to the challenge magnificently and Kennedy turned the tide after the visitors’ fast start by running onto a loose ball late in the opening term and converting from close range. It sparked West Coast into action, and the big home crowd was in raptures as the fan favourite marked strongly on the lead and put his side in front. His fifth from outside the boundary was a thing of beauty, and his seven-goal haul was the biggest bag of the season.
Season averages:
Disposals – 7
Score Involvements – 4.1
Marks Inside 50 – 2.6
Goals - 2
Marks On Lead – 1.6
2020 AFL statistical rankings:
2nd: Goals
2nd: Marks inside 50
3rd: Marks on lead
5th: Behinds
