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Kennedy's phone abuzz after injury rumours

3 minute read

Eagles forward Josh Kennedy's phone was buzzing after false injury rumours about him were aired on a Melbourne radio station.

JOSH KENNEDY and Jeremy McGovern of the Eagles celebrate a goal during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium in Perth, Australia.
JOSH KENNEDY and Jeremy McGovern of the Eagles celebrate a goal during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium in Perth, Australia. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

West Coast forward Josh Kennedy says even his family and friends were fooled by the false rumours about him suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Kennedy's phone was buzzing on Monday after a Melbourne radio station aired rumours that the two-time Coleman medallist had suffered a serious knee injury.

But it was nothing more than uninformed chatter, with the 'injury' merely a kick to the shin at training last Friday.

"The leg is still there," Kennedy joked on Perth radio station 6PR.

"Me and Oz (Oscar Allen) were just competing for a high ball, and he flicked his leg up and I just got a little stinger at the top of the shin there.

"It cut a bit of the skin. I was bleeding a bit so I had to walk off, and then trained for the rest (of the session).

"But I had a few phone calls yesterday saying that I was done for the year which was quite interesting.

"I had phone calls from friends and family saying, 'I hope you haven't done your ACL, sorry to hear you retire'.

"And I was like, 'Whoa, what's this?' It was quite funny. Obviously Chinese whispers all the way down to the eastern states."

Kennedy has declared himself a certain starter for Thursday night's elimination final against Essendon at Optus Stadium.

But the fate of Shannon Hurn remains up in the air with the skipper still needing to prove he has overcome the hamstring niggle he suffered against the Hawks on August 24.

"He trained pretty well last night. I think he's pretty confident with it," Kennedy said.

"So it's up to match committee to see whether they want to push forward with it.

"Hopefully he can get up because he's obviously a massive leader of our side and really helps out with our backline."

Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui appears certain to return after recovering well from a syndesmosis ankle injury.

Naitanui will team with Tom Hickey in a powerful ruck duo.

"It's been fantastic to have him (Naitanui) back in training and see him jump around and run and mark and kick," Kennedy said.

"It's pretty exciting to have him back. We're really looking forward to seeing what he can do."

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