WEST Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy says he is willing to accept spending less time on the ground in a bid to extend his career.

The workhorse forward has played more than 90 per cent of game time in each of his four seasons under coach Adam Simpson but injury issues over the past 12 months have caused a rethink.  

Kennedy was sidelined for five games last year due to a calf/Achilles problem, which cost him a historic third successive Coleman Medal.

That injury in round 10 against the Giants ended his run of 64 consecutive games. 

The 30-year-old has also missed the opening three rounds after pre-season surgery on a niggling ankle, related to last year's issues, and a knee operation to remove a bone fragment. 

Simpson conceded to AFL.com.au last month that the Eagles would need to manage Kennedy's minutes upon his return because he "doesn’t have a second gear".

While the star 196cm goalkicker admitted that might be frustrating, he's prepared to listen to medical staff.

"I've never come off the ground. I've always played max minutes. That's something we've had to look at now and probably have to manage getting to this age," Kennedy told AFL.com.au.  

"All these little things come into it, which you don't really like, but you've got to accept it. 

"I'm not 25 anymore and I can't just keep running out 130 minutes of footy and getting bashed around.

"The club have been really good with handling it all. I've got this year and next year on my contract, but it would be nice to keep extending it and play as long as I can.

"But you don't want to get to that stage where you have to retire, or you're playing games and holding someone out of the team."

Although Kennedy's minutes might have to be managed, he didn't believe he would have to change the way he plays.

"I don't think I've left the 50 the last two years," he joked.

"The game has evolved a bit and the way we want to move the football and other teams want to move the football, as a tall forward you can afford to hold back a bit. 

"It's still a game where you're going up and back, but now – I don't know if it's all the tall forwards getting older as well and they don't want to leave the 50 – but it's something that will help (with his workload). 

"But in saying that, you're still copping your knocks and competing against someone just as big as you and you still have to run 10, 11 or 12km depending on what you’re doing.

"It's still taxing on your body."

While Kennedy has been medically ticked off to return against Gold Coast on Saturday night, the final decision rests in the hands of Simpson and the strength and conditioning team. 

After being starved of supply last year, Kennedy has been licking his lips watching West Coast's midfield feeding a hungry young forward line, which has shown plenty of promise in his absence.  

The Eagles ranked 13th for inside 50s last season (49.6) but are up to second in the AFL (59.3) this year. 

"Hopefully when I come back the next couple of weeks they don't dry up," Kennedy said. 

"It would be nice to have that every week.  

"That's something we've been working on. Our team, with the forward line we've got and the mids we have we should be able to get that many inside 50s.

"To see the last three weeks and the way the boys are going and having the entries it's something I'm looking forward to getting back into." 

Gun forwards and their time on ground

Tom Lynch, Gold Coast

 Lance Franklin, Sydney

Josh Kennedy, West Coast