Western Bulldogs midfielder Matthew Kennedy suffers concussion, set to miss elimination final

Western Bulldogs midfielder Matthew Kennedy is the heartbreak story of the AFL’s inaugural wildcard final.

The inside ball-winner was among the best players on the ground against Collingwood on Friday night before a head clash with Harvey Harrison during the last quarter that saw him go down into the MCG rooms and undergo a head injury assessment.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Matt Kennedy taken off for HIA after head clash

Kennedy failed the test and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, meaning he enters the AFL’s concussion protocols and must be sidelined for at least the next 12 days.

The Bulldogs beat Collingwood in a pulsating three-point classic after Tim Membrey missed a shot after the siren to win the game for the Magpies, and will progress through to the elimination finals next weekend.

They don’t know who they’ll face yet, with the result of the Melbourne-Carlton game set to determine whether they play Adelaide or Geelong.

Either way though, Kennedy won’t be there — a massive blow after he had 27 touches and a goal before going off against the Pies.

Dogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli told Channel 7 after the game that Kennedy knows no other way.

“I was trying to calm him down because he was spewing about the free kick that was given away to Nick (Daicos) in the middle of the ground,” Bontempelli said.

“He had this look in his eye after it and he goes, ‘Man, I’m going to make it up’. I said, ‘Alright, just, you know, just choose the right moment’.

“And I knew when that ball popped up and sort of popped in between, he only knows one way, Matty. And so you have to wear it a little bit.

“Hopefully we can win next week and then get him back the week after if we’re fortunate enough.”

“He’s a finals type of footballer and had critical involvements again tonight, didn’t he? That is a shame,” he said.

“He was instrumental in that midfield group; 27 disposals, nine contested, four clearances.