Best of Kennedy to come: Sumich

SOON after West Coast's bright start to this season, assistant coach Peter Sumich spoke glowingly of the future of Eagle Josh Kennedy.

Sumich, a star goal kicker during West Coast's dominant run in the early 1990s, identified Kennedy as a key to an Eagle revival that continued on Sunday when they outpointed the Dockers in the Perth derby.

Kennedy, who arrived at West Coast somewhat reluctantly from Carlton as part of the Chris Judd trade deal, kicked three goals as the Eagles ended a run of seven consecutive losses against Fremantle.

The 23-year-old has now kicked 16 goals and is firmly on track to better his breakout season of 41 goals in 2010, when Kennedy was one of few West Coast players to enhance their reputations.

Sumich, though, said his best was still to come.

"I still think his best footy is in the next 12 to 24 months. This year, whatever he does is a bonus," Sumich said.

"I've dealt with Josh over the last few years being a forward line coach and I just see him really coming to the party in the next 12 to 24 months. But he is going to be a really good player this year. Just body wise, these bigger blokes, when they are 25 to 26, that is when they really play some good footy and he is not far from that."

Kennedy, modest yesterday in downplaying his role in attack, noted that it was the improvement in several other youngsters and the greater focus on defence across the board that has seen the Eagles equal, in just seven rounds, the four wins it notched last year.

Most obvious, given his appearance and profile, is Nic Naitanui, who continued on from the form he displayed against Essendon a fortnight ago with another solid effort against the Dockers, in which he laid 10 tackles and notched 20 hit-outs.

"He obviously had a few dramas with his shoulder early on in round one or two, but the way he's been chasing or tackling, he just lifts the team," Kennedy said.

"Being up forward when he's chasing blokes down back and holding the ball, it's quite amazing.

"It inspires everyone. He's an asset to us and he's starting to get back into some really good form."

The next two games against the Bulldogs and Collingwood will further test the Eagles.

While Worsfold is confident Andrew Embley will be fit to play the Bulldogs, Daniel Kerr underwent scans yesterday on the groin problem that forced him to withdraw shortly before Sunday's encounter.

The fallout from the loss worsened yesterday for Fremantle after scans revealed utility Adam McPhee had torn the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will miss up to two months.