Surgery again for Kennedy
STAR West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy is facing another restricted pre-season program after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder since booting three crucial goals in the grand final.
It is understood the dual Coleman medallist won’t resume contact work until late January, before building up to Round 1 and the Eagles’ start to their premiership defence.
The 31-year-old has had a rough trot on the injury front over the past 18 months, and missed half the 2018 home and away season with leg problems.
Ankle surgery last December kept him out until Round 4, while he was racing the clock to be fit for the qualifying final against Collingwood after suffering a second hairline fracture of his shin.
Kennedy then played with strapping on his shoulder in the preliminary final and grand final. THREE fourth-quarter goals from Mathias Liddy proved the difference between St Mary’s and Wanderers at TIO Stadium yesterday.
The teams went into the final break locked at 40 points apiece, but Shannon Rioli stepped up late to ensure a first win for new Saints coach Brent Renouf.
Rioli busted through the middle to assist Liddy’s first two goals of the last term, and Wanderers had no real response. The full forward followed it up with another goal before the Eagles offered a consolation major through Marlon Motlop.
St Mary’s big guns Nathaniel Paredes, Anthony Wilson and Raph Clarke all stood up to compliment Rioli, who didn’t look affected by a recently completed NEAFL season. Renouf said his side finally got reward BEST GOALS for effort after promising performances in the opening fortnight.
“The boys deserved it after the first couple of weeks,” he said. “The senior guys really stood up and led from the front and that’s what we’re looking for. Rioli has obviously come off a big year with Thunder and is just getting going again.”
Wanderers took a four-point advantage into halftime, however if Saints kicked straight they would have led comfortably.
The green machine dominated the run of first-term play, but failed to convert on the scoreboard. It wasn’t until Benjamin Taylor kicked truly midway through the second term that St Mary’s got going.
Rioli notched Saints’ second two minutes later – having missed a number of quality opportunities – although it was the Eagles who took momentum into the break.
Wanderers pushed out to a 12-point lead quickly after half time with Jarred Erlandson leading the way in his 150th match, but three consecutive goals to Taylor, Liddy and Matthew Wilkinson kept Saints within reach.