By JARROD POTTER
FINISHING his junior football career on a high note, Oakleigh Chargers’ co-captain Jay Kennedy-Harris bowed out in his final TAC Cup match helping secure a 60-point victory over the North Ballarat Rebels.
From humble beginnings playing for Mossgiel Park (now Endeavour North), all the way to the pinnacle of junior football – raising the TAC Cup last season in a one-point golden-point thriller over the Gippsland Power – it’s been a rapid rise through the ranks for the forward-midfielder.
Even though his Chargers have finished ninth this season in the TAC Cup competition – and won’t get to defend their premiership – it’s been a year to remember for the Endeavour Hills based Kennedy-Harris as he relished the chance to lead his team.
“It’s been awesome fun and I thought the season had a lot of positives and I’m still happy with how it went,” Kennedy-Harris said.
“Think our last game – to win by 10 goals is always a good way to finish the year.”
The Trinity Grammar graduate considers his announcement as Oakleigh captain as one of his greatest moments.
“It’s one of the biggest honours of my life,” Kennedy-Harris said.
“To get that sort of recognition this year and even just to play for the team over a few years, especially for a club I think so highly of, it means a lot to me.”
Kennedy-Harris’ season will continue – albeit in an augmented fashion – as he and his Oakleigh Chargers team mates train ahead of the 2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine.
“I’m more excited than anything – pretty happy to get the invite, but I guess there’s a bit of hard work to go in before then,” he said.
“Now the season’s done – there’s no more football to play – but Oakleigh was lucky enough to get a few people invited to the combine and the state screening.
“We’re going to get back together again next week and start training again with that group and push each other to get the best out of ourselves heading into it.”
Forging friendships with his team mates has guided Kennedy-Harris up to this point in his career – following an ambitious trajectory going off to boarding school in year nine – and he believes that progression is only possible with mates at his side.
“I think at the end of the day your team mates are your best mates that are going to be there as well” Kennedy-Harris said.
“You want them to do well and you want yourself to do well so just to push each other along the way.”
The Combine will be held at Etihad Stadium from Tuesday 1 October to Friday 4 October.
