Star West Coast veteran Josh Kennedy ‘keen to play on’ in 2021

West Coast veteran Josh Kennedy is “keen to play on” in 2021 according to the latest trade whispers.

AFL.com.au reports Kennedy’s manager Wayne Loxley is looking to lock in a one-year deal for the soon-to-be 33-year-old Eagle.

And with 17 goals in the past four games, Kennedy’s form certainly warrants a new deal – if he wants to go round again.

“Earlier in the year he was all but resigned to this year being his last AFL season,” afl.com.au’s Cal Twomey said.

“He was ready to ride off into the sunset but his form over the past six to eight weeks, as the Eagles form has turned around too, he’s been central to that.

“He’s the equal leader of the Coleman medal. He’s absolutely still flying and a key part of the Eagles’ mix.”

Fellow afl.com.au co-host Mitch Cleary said West Coast were looking to lock down all four talls, with Oscar Allen already contracted to the end of 2022 and Jack Darling on a “monster deal”.

Cleary said Jake Waterman’s management were aiming for a new three to four-year deal for the young forward, with contract talks “in coming weeks”.

Waterman is out of contract at the end of this season.

Kennedy has led the Eagles goal kicking six times in the past nine years and remains a key cog in the tall timber set-up West Coast have employed in the forward line.

Last month Kennedy said he would make a decision on his future at the end of the year.

“Yeah, of course I’d love to (play on),” he said.

“I love playing football, I love being able to rock up every day in a job that I actually love and I’ve got some of my really good friends that I’m able to connect with every day.

“Whatever the club want to do we’ll sit down and see what’s available and what’s there. If the option came up that there was going to be another contract I’d definitely take that for sure.”

Despite a lean start to 2020, where he kicked two goals in the first three games, Kennedy booted seven straight against Collingwood last month and has two bags of four against Geelong and Fremantle at Optus Stadium this year.