| Matthew Kennedy | |
| Fullname: | Matthew Thomas Kennedy[1] |
| Birth Date: | 6 April 1997 |
| Birth Place: | San Isidore, New South Wales |
| Originalteam: | Collingullie-Glenfield Park (Riverina FNL), GWS Giants Academy |
| Draftpick: | No. 13, 2015 AFL draft |
| Height: | 190 cm |
| Weight: | 90 kg |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Guernsey: | 8 |
| Years1: | 2016–2017 |
| Games Goals1: | 19 (7) |
| Years2: | 2018–2024 |
| Games Goals2: | 99 (50) |
| Years3: | 2025 - |
| Games Goals3: | 0 (0) |
| Games Goalstotal: | 118 (57) |
| Statsend: | 2024 |
Matthew Thomas Kennedy (born 6 April 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Greater Western Sydney Giants from 2016 to 2017, and the Carlton Football Club from 2018 to 2024.
Kennedy is from the small town of Collingullie, New South Wales. He participated in the Auskick program at Collingullie.[2] He and former Giants teammate Harry Perryman played together for most of their junior career.[3] Kennedy was recruited from Collingullie-Glenfield Park Football Club in the Riverina Football Netball League, where he played in consecutive senior premierships in 2014 and 2015.[4] A member of the Giants' academy program, he was drafted by the Giants with the thirteenth selection in the 2015 AFL draft, matching a bid from .[5]
Kennedy made his debut against the in round 13 of the 2016 AFL season. In an impressive performance, he kicked three goals as the Giants defeated Essendon by a 27 points.[6]
In October 2017, Kennedy was traded to Carlton.[7]
Carlton demoted Kennedy to the rookie at the end of the 2020 season to make salary cap space due to the coronavirus pandemic;[8] but after a successful 2021 season he was re-elevated to the senior list for 2022.[9]
Kennedy was again traded after the 2024 AFL season, this time to the Western Bulldogs.[10]