West Coast coach Adam Simpson has said that veteran Eagle Josh Kennedy is yet to make a call on his retirement plans, despite Round 21's match against Adelaide being touted as a potential farewell game for the club champion.
Kennedy has played 14 games for the Eagles in 2022 and is out-of-contract at seasons end, with the 34-year-old missing Round 20's trip to Queensland to take on Gold Coast after being rested.
When quizzed on the two-time Coleman medallist's plans after Sunday afternoon's loss to the Suns, Simpson said the choice was up to Kennedy.
"That’s up to him," Simpson said on Sunday afternoon.
"I’ll let him work through it, it’s up to us, but I’ll let him guide his way through it.
"When the time is right for him to make the call, I’ll be stepping aside and let him do it.
"That’ll be in the future somewhere."
Simpson's comments come a day after West Coast chairman Russell Gibbs appeared on ABC’s Sportstalk, confirming the plan to have Kennedy farewelled at the Eagles' final home game of the season in Round 21.
“Certainly that is the plan at this stage. He has still got to get through training to play the game. I know there are a lot of guys that would like to play with Josh. He is highly respected throughout the club,” Gibbs said.
West Coast will face the Crows in that game, before being the away team at the Western Derby in Round 22, before flying to Victoria to take on Geelong to end the season.
Kennedy has played 292 games for the Eagles throughout his illustrious career, kicking 715 goals to become a seven-time club leading goalkicker. The 34-year-old made his debut in 2006 after being taken with pick four in the 2005 AFL draft by Carlton.
