COLLINGWOOD and emerging youngster Ben Kennedy are close to agreeing to terms on a new two-year contract.
 
AFL.com.au understands the deal will tie the South Australian to the Magpies until the end of 2016.
 
Kennedy, who was due to come out of contract at the end of this season, is believed to have attracted interest from a number of opposition clubs – in particular Adelaide and Port Adelaide.
 
But the 20-year-old, selection No. 19 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, says he is going nowhere.
 
"I'm deep in contract talks with the club at the moment," Kennedy told AFL.com.au.
 
"I'm very happy with the direction the club's going, so I'm very keen to stay at Collingwood."
 
Magpies director of football Rodney Eade said contract talks were well advanced.
 
"From our point of view there's been some very fruitful negotiations and hopefully it's not too far away that we can announce something," Eade told AFL.com.au.
 
After 12 games in his debut year – five as the starting substitute – Kennedy was expected to consolidate on his form in 2014.
 
It hasn't quite panned out the way, with the speedy small forward managing seven games so far this season.
 
Having now played five of the past six games, including his best performance of the season against West Coast last weekend, which he gathered 21 disposals and kicked two goals, Kennedy is starting to hit his straps.
 
Kennedy said his hiatus from the senior team was hard to deal with.
 
"I wouldn't say patience is one of my strong points," Kennedy said.
 
"I see that as a strength in my character and how badly I want to become a successful player.
 
"But sometimes I do need to take a couple of steps back and realise how old I am and that there's a few guys in front of me, but in saying that I use that to drive me."
 
Kennedy's pending deal is in line with Jarryd Blair's imminent two-year commitment to the Magpies.