By Gabriel Donaldson, Williamstown Media
18-year-old defender from NSW, Ben Kennedy, has signed late in the pre-season after catching the attention of senior coach Justin Plapp.
Despite still being in the early years of his football career, Kennedy has already amassed a number of impressive achievements in the past year alone that make him a worthy addition to the Seagulls.
Much like his new teammate Finn O’Dwyer, Kennedy played for The Murray Bushrangers in the NAB League.
Kennedy also mixed his football with Xavier College and was awarded the APS Best and Fairest in 2024.
In the same year, Kennedy was chosen to represent the Allies U18 side at the 2024 National Championships.
Playing all four matches in the competition, the versatile defender was recognised for his standout performance against Victoria Country as one of the Allies most valuable players.
For his hard work and commitment, Kennedy’s name was listed in Kevin Sheehan’s 2024 Telstra AFL Draft as one of the top prospects for small and medium defenders.
The defender’s playing style allows him to defend against opponents of any size and remain calm under pressure. His athleticism and composure make Kennedy an exciting young prospect for the Seagulls.
“Ben’s a well-mannered and high-character person. He is very strong one-on-one and reads the ball extremely well in the air,” Plapp said.
“Training alongside someone like Jake Greiser, who plays a similar role but with the experience and maturity that comes with years in the VFL system, will be a great learning opportunity for Ben. We’re confident he’ll develop well in our environment.”
Kennedy will be part of Williamstown’s academy squad, led by Mark Smyth. He played in the first two practice matches of the season and was one of the few academy players included in the lineup for the most recent hit-out against Coburg.
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