Sydney co-captain Josh Kennedy insists the last five weeks of the AFL season are critical for his club, even though their AFL finals streak is about to end.
The hardy midfielder played 22 finals matches in his first nine seasons with Sydney, but the 6-11 Swans look certain to miss out on September action for the first time since 2009.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a different situation, it’s the first time that I’ve been in Sydney that finals are really unlikely,” Kennedy said.
“‘But it’s a different challenge and it’s really important for the next five weeks that we play really good football, that we get better every week and that we finish the year with some momentum to carry forward.
“I think it’s a really critical time for the footy club.”
For all their difficulties this season, 15th-placed Sydney have still proven a tough nut to crack despite invariably fielding sides chock full of youngsters.
“There’s certainly been games this year when you step back and think ‘gee, this is pretty exciting,” Kennedy said of the Swans young brigade.
Apart from a 42-point home loss to GWS, they haven’t been beaten by more than 26 and the defeats in their last three games have all been by ten or less.
Hosting ladder leaders Geelong on Sunday looms as another big test for the Swans youngsters.
“The best way to learn is that hands on experience and these guys are top of the ladder,” Kennedy said.
‘It’s a big challenge and hopefully we can really match it with them and take it to them.”
Kennedy is wary of Geelong despite the Cats losing three of their last five.
“It can turn pretty quickly, I think they would be well aware of that and I’m sure they’d know what the triggers are for them and the keys to getting back to their best,” he said.
It’s been another productive season for 31-year-old warrior Kennedy, who is averaging 27 touches, 12 contested possessions, six tackles and almost six clearances a game.
Despite constantly bumping bodies in the midfield combat zone, Kennedy said his body felt good.
“The doc says I’m about 24-years-old body-wise, so I’m running with that at the moment,” Kennedy quipped.
