DESPITE not having played an AFL match since the final round in 2015, due to three separate hamstring injuries, and a broken arm this pre-season, livewire Jay Kennedy-Harris says he’s not nervous about playing his 23^rd match.

Instead, the small midfielder/forward said he had the belief to comeback strongly, when he lines up for Melbourne in its ANZAC Day Eve clash against Richmond at the MCG on Monday night.  

“I’ve been preparing for so long, the nerves aren’t there,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“I remember my first game and this feels nothing like it. I feel as confident as ever, despite having such a long layoff between AFL games.

“I know exactly what I need to do on the weekend and the coaches know I will do everything I can do to deliver that. There is a sense of nervousness and excitement, but I just want to get on with what I want to do.”

Kennedy-Harris acknowledged he was “tested mentally at times” last year, but counts his injury-riddled 2016 as somewhat of a blessing in disguise.

He said his setbacks helped him prepare for when he was dealt another one in the pre-season – a broken arm after playing in the first two JLT Community Series games.

“I almost look at last year – even though it might seem like a bit of a nothing year – as one that prepared me as best as possible for this year,” he said.

“It gave me the opportunity to watch a lot of football and I started to become a smarter player and that’s starting to come out in my footy.

“I hope it all comes together now and I get the fruits of the hard work.”

Drafted at No.40 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, Kennedy-Harris said he didn’t have any lingering issues from his recent setback.

“The rehab went pretty smoothly, but day-by-day it was pretty hard,” he said.

“It was a bit of an extra hurdle to get the season going with the broken arm.

“I’m finally playing, so hopefully I’ll get to enjoy the rest of the season.”

Kennedy-Harris praised the help of several people in his comeback, adding that he was a product of his environment.

“Despite having a tough season last year, I had a lot of people who had a lot of belief in me. I don’t think I’m there yet, but I think I’m on the right path,” he said.

“From the way Goody (Simon Goodwin) has put his arm around me, every time I’ve been knocked down with an injury to Macca (Brendan McCartney) teaching me the game inside out – and to be as smart as possible on the field and Twig (Jade Rawlings) with the defensive stuff, plus a sprinkling of players … they’ve continually driven me to get here.

“I’m just lucky I’m at a football club now that has helped me get through this and let me come out the other end and enjoy the rest of the season.”  

As he prepares for his return, the 22-year-old said he was determined to make the most of the opportunities in the modern game.   

“The small forward role doesn’t allow me to fully use my attributes,” he said

“The way our team is worked out, I get the opportunity to fulfill the small forward role, especially defensively, with my pressure and trying to turn over the ball.

“The offensively, with our ball movement, I get to use my speed and endurance, and some skills and hopefully set us up to move the ball quite efficiently.”