Neitz sure Kennedy has Coleman treble lined up
DAVID Neitz expects the redhot Josh Kennedy to complete a Coleman Medal three-peat.
Neitz, the 2002 winner, says the West Coast spearhead is a “goalkicking machine” who will become the first player to go back-to-back-toback since Gary Ablett Sr won his three medals from 1993-95.
Three-time winner Matthew Lloyd and 2007 champion Jonathan Brown disagree.
They believe Essendon’s soft run home will help Joe Daniher (59 goals) end Kennedy’s (60) dominance.
The Dons’ final two opponents (Gold Coast and Fremantle) both conceded 22 goals on Saturday, and Kennedy is likely to battle Phil Davis (GWS) and Daniel Talia (Crows).
“I remember saying earlier this year Daniher could be the best forward of the game,” Lloyd said of his former protege. “I didn’t think he’d be knocking on the door this season.
“His ability at 200cm to mark at the highest point, sit on heads, pick the ball up and snap across his body … and his goalkicking’s improved out of sight. He’s not there yet, but he’s becoming the complete player and well ahead of time.”
But forget Kennedy’s goalless 2014 grand final — the Eagle with the stuttering approach is who Lloyd would pick first come September.
“You know what you get every week. He’s kicked six goals five times and nobody else has done it more than twice. He’s got great endurance and is as strong as anyone in the game as well.”
Three of those six-goal bags have come in Kennedy’s blistering past four weeks, where he has booted 6.1, 6.4, 5.1 and 6.3.
Kennedy has contributed an astonishing — and perhaps unhealthy — 37 per cent of West Coast’s goals since returning from a calf injury.