BEN Kennedy says he “definitely” felt more settled this year compared to last season – his first at Melbourne after joining from Collingwood.

The tenacious small said it took some adjusting joining a new club, but he felt a genuine part of it entering 2017.

“If I compare it to last year, I wasn’t as settled – in terms of coming into the playing group,” he told melbournefc.com.au. 

“I always had my friends here, but I feel so much tighter with the group and I feel a part of it now.

“I feel like I’m in the groove of it all now.”

Kennedy played forward and midfield in 2016, but expects to spend most of his time in attack this year.

“I think I’ll spend more time up forward, with the odd pinch-hit in the midfield,” he said.

“Naturally, I have a knack for finding the footy and that’s a strength of mine – the competitiveness and finding the footy.

“I really want to build the defensive side of my game and start laying a few tackles and turning the ball over in the front half, so that’s where I want to make a name for myself this year and that’s what I’m aiming for.”

Kennedy said his training on the camp had varied a bit in preparation for the upcoming matches.  

“I had a pretty big off-season and if I’m being honest, I probably should’ve had a longer rest,” he said.

“The camp has been good for me to step it back a little bit, but everyone else is ramping it up. I’m just taking it easy until the next couple of weeks, so I can be right to go for the start of the year. 

“At the end of the day, it’s a good opportunity for me to get my body right and in shape for the start of the season.”