RYAN Kemp has already made a name for himself in the Wimmera league, just two seasons into his senior career.
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Kemp played as a make-shift forward and midfielder for Horsham Demons and had racked up 50 goals in 12 games in the 2018 season.
“You can’t complain about that, I’ve had a pretty lucky season. Some things have fallen my way,” he said.
Kemp has only played for the Demons.
He said he started playing for his hometown club as an auskicker when he was five years old.
Kemp said this season tested his leadership skills.
“Since we lost all of our experienced players last year, it allowed myself and a few of the other boys a chance to step up and be a leader at the club,” he said.
“It’s been a fun year, we have a lot of young players. It’s good to mix in with the experienced players.”
Kemp is part of a crop of Horsham youngsters who had risen through the ranks at the club and now represent the senior squad. This crop included players such as Alex Harfield, Billy Carberry, Matthew Lloyd, Beau Cross and Ben Lakin.
“There was a lot of talk that we weren’t going to be very good at the start of this season... I heard a bottom five team. We didn’t know how we were going to go either, but we had some blokes come up from reserves and are going well,” Kemp said.
The Demons were undefeated in the first half of the season, Kemp said it surprised him.
“I knew we were going to be half decent but we just played well together,” he said.
“I was expecting a loss somewhere along the line. Now we have had two losses out of three games. I think we could pick it back up.”
The Demons experienced injuries to key players in recent weeks but Kemp said he knew his team would get back to full fitness soon.
Kemp experienced an injury scare to his ankle in the opening quarter against the Southern Mallee Giants in round 12.
“I kept playing, I just strapped it up and went back out… I probably shouldn’t have,” he said.
“I’m looking at playing this week, I have received treatment at training and am walking alright now. If I need a week off I will, I’m not going to play and injure myself more.”
It was a year to remember in 2017, Kemp featured in the Demons grand final victory against Minyip-Murtoa and was awarded best under-21 player on the ground.
Kemp also featured in the Horsham under-14 premiership win in 2005 and was named best on ground in the Horsham under-17 premiership win in 2014.
Kemp said during the 2017 season he played mostly on the wing, whereas in 2018 he played 70 per cent of his game-time up forward.