Jay Kennedy-Harris (right) is an exciting small forward. Source: Supplied / News Limited
JAY Kennedy-Harris is a fighter.
If he doesn't find an AFL home at this month's national draft he won't give up.
The small forward with spades of defensive pressure says he'll "bounce back and keep working for it.'' He knows he's resilient.
Kennedy-Harris learnt that when he was 13 and he lost his father, Edgar Harris, to throat cancer.
The boy who this year became the first ever Indigenous player to captain a TAC Cup club had to step up at home, where he lived with his mum and younger sister.
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Kennedy-Harris says while it advanced his maturity, the prolific tackler found it hard fronting up to footy each week and watching all his mates embrace their dad's after games.
"I just know as a person whether it was from those experiences or I've just always had it, when times get tough I just grind through it,'' he said.
"I grew up with my mum and my sister at home and not having a dad where I could go out there and get among men and boys and that sort of thing was hard.
"I've always loved my footy and I guess when that happened it was a setback, but it also gave me a bit of extra inspiration to push on and remember when times get tough they could be even tougher.''
"I really loved my footy and it seemed to fill a bit of a hole.''
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Kennedy-Harris used to spend each school holidays with his dad in Queensland.
"He was always a huge advocate that if you want to go with it, put your all into it and I think that's what I've done,'' he said.
"He wasn't hugely interested (in footy) but he wanted me enjoying doing whatever I did."
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Kennedy-Harris, who is set to buck the trend after the recent dearth of Indigenous players drafted - especially from Victoria - could be the most independent draft prospect this year.
He moved out of his Endeavour Hills home after Year 8 and boarded at Trinity Grammar.
This year he lived on campus at Melbourne University, studying a science degree, meaning he has always taken total control of his life, be it organising how to get to Oakleigh Chargers training before he had a licence or knuckling down for exams.
Jay Kennedy Harris in the dining room of his Melbourne University college. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited
At Trinity he became friends with North Melbourne's father-son gun Luke McDonald, whose family used to often drive Kennedy-Harris to junior footy games.
Kennedy-Harris's thoughts on the draft are pragmatic.
"If it doesn't work out it's just about bouncing back and keep working for it but if it does it'll be a dream come true.''
Fortunately for him, every club except Collingwood and Fremantle have expressed interest with Melbourne, the Roos and Adelaide all circling.
And Kennedy-Harris's fears his 173cm frame would be too small for the elite level were washed away this year as the even smaller Jake Neade made an instant impact at Port Adelaide.
"I definitely take a lot of inspiration from how Neade goes about his footy,'' he said.
"To have someone start in the AFL Round 1 at the size he is was a huge confidence booster.
"The way we play we don't need to be tall. Sure, it helps, but if we're better in different areas we'll be just as good.''
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Kennedy-Harris flourished as a small forward last year before moving into the midfield this season and sizzling, with his creativity - modelled on Steven Motlop - cracking games open.
The Chargers frequently showed highlights of his chase-down tackles as inspiration.
"He chased a Bendigo player down from 60m once, underlining his defensive intent. That lives in my mind,'' talent manager Mark Smart said.
"To see someone run 40, 50m to tackle someone is quite incredible to watch.''
Kennedy-Harris only learnt halfway through the season he was the first indigenous talent to captain a TAC Cup club and said he took enormous pride from the achievement.
"It's an indication of how strong Indigenous football is becoming in Victoria in comparison to the past few years,'' he said.
"It almost astounded me that the competition had been around (22 years) and I was the first one.''
JAY KENNEDY-HARRIS
AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 173cm
WEIGHT: 68kg
POSITION: Small forward
SUPERCOACH AVG: 117pts (TAC Cup)
DRAFT RANGE: 30-50
IN THE MIX: Dees (40), Crows (46), Roos (47)
PLAYS LIKE: Jake Neade
TOMORROW: The best key defender in the draft
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