Gary Ablett and Matthew Kennedy test his shoulder. Picture: Adam Head
Matthew Kennedy may be best remembered as one of Leigh Matthews’ enforcers during a decade of service at the Brisbane Lions, but he is now leaving his mark on a different area of our game. As the Gold Coast SUNS new high performance manager, the man affectionately regarded as ‘Maxy’ provides an interesting blend of technical and practical knowledge as well as a strong grasp of the emotional, human nature side of football.
The world of sports science has dramatically evolved since Kennedy played the last of his 188 games in 2001, with far more scrutiny and emphasis placed on this crucial facet of the game. Back in the 1990’s and early part of this millennium, more was better. And it was a source of pride, worn like a badge of honour, and something that helped propel the Brisbane Lions into football immortality.
For Kennedy, throughout his professional football career he was always interested in strength and conditioning. Given some of the names at the Gabba during his time, he was exposed to exceptionally high standards led by Michael Voss, Craig McRae, Chris and Brad Scott, Nigel Lappin, Marcus Ashcroft, Mal Michael, Simon Black and Justin Leppitsch. Just to name a few. But given the standing of these men in our game at this given time, it’s not hard to see how living by elite standards in a player-driven culture can lead to the ultimate success. So now, Kennedy continues to emerge as another member of the Leigh Matthews era to ascend to a strong leadership position post-football.
Before arriving at the Gold Coast SUNS for the VFL season in 2010 as the club’s rehabilitation coach – a role that more specifically focuses on sports science – Kennedy was the strength and conditioning coach at his old side between 2007 and 2009. During the later stages of his playing career, with his body tiring from the manic approach to hard work that was part and parcel at the Lions, Kennedy began to turn his eye to the next chapter of his life. He spent two years studying Sports Science at Griffith University before transferring to a Master of Sports Coaching to round out his education.
The combination of classroom practice and the intricacies associated with playing football at the highest level, equipping him with a deep skillset to step into coaching. Kennedy admits having a thorough understanding of the triumphs and tribulations associated with league football, coupled with his technical understanding of sports science is without doubt a strength he possesses.
“I think you’ve got to have a balance of both. It’s not the be all and end all, because it gives you an unbelievable intuition into the athlete and a really key understanding of what they really need,” Kennedy told goldcoastfc.com.au.
“I’m not your cookie cutter strength and conditioning coach. My strength is my ability to work with individuals and individualise their program and specificity around that. How to get the best out of the individual – not put everyone in the same cattle yard. I think that comes from my football background and knowing what a footballer needs.
“I think it certainly helps because you’ve experienced it. And right, wrong or indifferent, there is a level of respect amongst players and past players because you’ve experienced what they have. I’ve got an acute understanding of when a player needs a spell and when he’s trying to pull the wool over your eyes.
“You’ve got to have a balance of that sports science knowledge and you’ve got to have that blue collar knowledge.”
When Kennedy discusses his craft, it’s not difficult to feel the passion and emotion he possesses. His mantra is simple, but clearly something he believes particularly strongly about. In this day and age there is no place for group-based training programs. Every player must be treated as an individual.
But, at the core of his beliefs is hard work. As a product of the all-conquering Brisbane football program, and one driven by ornaments of the game in Voss and Matthews, Kennedy is a by-product of a farm that continues to blossom as one of the most productive in the history of the game.
“I think in a lot of ways, a lot of the old stuff is becoming new again. I think we can get blinded by the science at times. I think there’s definitely a place for that, but I’m massive on individualisation, hard work and having all the components in place to give the individual the best opportunity,” Kennedy said.
“Half the battle with this caper is your ability to man-manage, have a really good understanding of what the basic principles are but how to man-manage is the key and getting the players to trust what you’re saying.
“This is cheesy, but we’re a pit crew. We’ve got to be experts in our field. You might be on the tyres, you might be on the engine, rub the windscreen, whatever it is. We’ve all got a little part to play in that.
“I see the high performance manager managing those relationships and making sure they’re really strong and the communications got to be rock solid. You’ve got to communicate really well, they’ve got to believe what you’re saying and you can’t talk bull to them. You’ve got to squeeze every bit of juice out because everyone’s getting better and better.”
Throughout our conversation one theme that continues to emerge is unity. Kennedy is clear and concise in his belief that from the coach to the medical team to the sports science department, communication pathways must be honest and open. Without this, cohesion and synergy go out the door and players can be affected.
Rodney Eade may only be six months into his tenure in Carrara, but his relationship with Kennedy goes back a long way. He coached him in a reserves premiership at the Brisbane Bears and the pair crossed paths for one season at the Bears in 1990.
“Rocket coached me in a premiership here at the Bears. I actually played with him when I was a young bloke. I’ve got a good relationship with him. He’s like all coaches I’ve ever dealt with and I’ve been lucky enough to have some unbelievable ones, particularly Leigh Matthews. You just don’t lie to them, you remain authentic, true to yourself and you’ll never have an issue,” Kennedy said.
