Kennedy hope for no rain

WEST Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy looms as the danger man the Magpies must stop, but the big forward has his own concerns ahead of today’s grand final — the weather.

The Eagles’ star forward admitted yesterday he was not a fan of playing in the rain and hoped it would remain clear for today’s grand final.

“As a tall forward I don’t really like the rain,’’ Kennedy said during the grand final parade. “It should be all right. It’s drizzled a bit, it might clear up tomorrow. But it is what it is, we’ll just get through whatever happens.’’

The forecast for the grand final is for 14C with possible showers, but Eagles coach Adam Simpson wasn’t concerned.

“Rain doesn’t matter. We’re OK with the wet,’’ Simpson said. “It’s not really something we’re planning to do anything different with.’’

The Eagles’ tall forwards shape as a major threat for Collingwood in the premiership decider, but Kennedy did not believe the Eagles held a significant edge over the Magpies’ defence.

“It’s going to be 22 v 22, it’s going to be an even comp,’’ Kennedy said. “We know that it’s going to be a challenge against their back six the way they play and the way that they help out each other.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge for us forwards. We just need to give a contest for the talls and hopefully the smalls can do their job on the ground.

“It’s going to be a bit of a field position game.’’