WHEN Adam Kennedy runs onto the Gabba in Saturday's semi-final to take on Brisbane, he will set a personal record for games played in a single season.
SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW Lions v Giants
Greater Western Sydney's clash with the Lions will be Kennedy's 21st match of the year, his career-high in his eighth season in the competition.
It's a milestone that looked out of reach earlier this season.
Adam Kennedy's drive from half-back will be critical against the Lions. Picture: AFL Photos
When the 27-year-old played the first 16 games of 2019 he looked assured of setting a new mark, until he was surprisingly dropped after the Giants' 27-point loss to Richmond at the MCG in round 17.
The reliable speedster took his axing well, and racked up 18 first-half possessions against Aspley in the NEAFL on July 20 before his afternoon took a scary turn.
Kennedy failed to reappear after the long break after experiencing an elevated heart rate.
The Giants' medical staff sent him to hospital as a precaution, and while Kennedy was given the all clear, he told AFL.com.au that he had brief moments of doubt that he'd play again this season.
To come back from that and get back into footy, and now to be playing finals, I'm feeling really good and fresh - Adam Kennedy
"I feel great now, but it was a bizarre situation," he said.
"I had a small procedure where they put some wires up my leg and went in through my heart and played around with it, so that was a weird thing to go through.
"The doctors looked at that and thought they might see something, but they were happy with how everything looked, and that gave me some peace of mind.
"I had a good chat with the doc and he told me that these things can happen, and it could be a one-off, but he was confident it wouldn't happen again.
"Initially I didn't know what to think. My first thought was about getting it right, and then worry about playing footy again."
Kennedy missed the following week because of the procedure but dominated in his NEAFL return, and was picked to play Hawthorn in round 21.
He stepped straight back into the Giants backline like he'd never been away, and remains an important member of coach Leon Cameron's side.
"To come back from that and get back into footy, and now to be playing finals, I'm feeling really good and fresh," he said.
With his speed and running ability, Kennedy gives the Giants plenty of drive from half-back, and can also be a damaging weapon on the wing.
He said last week's elimination final thumping of the Western Bulldogs has given him and his teammates plenty of confidence ahead of Saturday's semi-final.
"We've shown for most of the year that if we rock up and bring a really good attitude and appetite, we play some pretty good footy," he said.
"As soon as you're five or 10 per cent off, teams just pounce on you.
"We know what our best is and last weekend showed that.
"We played a tough brand of contested footy and tackled really well, and I think that's the sort of footy you have to play to win big games in finals.
"We have to prepare ourselves mentally and physically to be ready for Saturday night.
"We've got a big challenge again, and have to take that same attitude up north and see what we can do against the Lions."
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