Kerry’s Swan Kennelly fit and ready for season ahead

KERRY AFL star Tadhg Kennelly is geared up for a strong showing in 2005 after an uneventful pre-season of training where he got fitter without suffering any injury concerns.

The ever improving Kennelly hopes his solid preparation will enable him to build on an already blossoming career starting with Sydney's first match against Essendon at North Sydney tomorrow night.

"At this time of year you just want to get through pre-season training, you are trying to do everything right both on and off the track just to get physically right for the season coming," Kennelly said.

"I have been talking more to the conditioning staff than the coaches so far as I try to get fitter and fitter each year.

"You are not going to reach as good a time in your running as you do when you are younger because you put on a bit more weight as you get a bit older.

"But physically I want to get a lot fitter and I think I have much more aerobic capacity in my body which will help me run out games easier.

"Everyone seems to be on track and I suppose I'm now just looking forward to a few games coming up which makes the pre-season a bit easier, as with games you don't have to be running around the oval as much."

The 23-year-old is expecting another demanding season when he hopes to show more leadership on the field so was thrilled by the Swans' four-day trip to Wollongong last week for the community camp as life had a chance to slow down.

"It's always good to get away from Sydney and spread the gospel of the AFL," the Irish international said.

"But personally coming from a small country town like I do with a population of 3000, I like getting away from the city because it's such a busy place, it's pretty hectic.

"It's such a fast life all the time, everything is go, people seem to be on a constant go, it's fast, fast, fast living. I don't mind it but I think people can get caught up in it too much when you can sit back relax and enjoy yourself."