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Eagles great to call shots on AFL farewell

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says whether or not the Eagles AFL home match against Adelaide will be a farewell for Josh Kennedy is in the hands of the forward.

ADAM SIMPSON.
ADAM SIMPSON. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images

West Coast are set to let Josh Kennedy decide whether next weekend's game against Adelaide will be a celebration of the Eagles great's AFL career.

Kennedy, 34, is off-contract at season's end and the clash with the Crows is the Eagles' last match as the home team at Optus Stadium in 2022.

With the veteran forward expected to call time on his career, next Sunday could be the last chance Eagles fans have to give the premiership winner a fitting send-off.

Kennedy has kicked a club record 704 goals in his 270 matches for the Eagles, who he joined ahead of the 2008 season after two years with Carlton.

The Eagles return to Optus as the away team the following weekend for a derby against Fremantle before travelling to Geelong for the final round of the 2022 season.

West Coast didn't take Kennedy on their trip to face Gold Coast on Sunday as they fell to a three-point loss to the Suns, saving his body to face the Crows.

"JK should be available. That's probably about it in terms of availability," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

"Josh is probably the main one (if it's a farewell match).

"That's up to him.

"I'll let him work through it ... when the time is right for him to make the call, I'll be stepping aside and let him do it."

Sunday's game was a milestone for another Eagles' veteran as Andrew Gaff made his 250th AFL appearance.

The 30-year-old was unlucky to wind up on the losing team after an impressive display including 23 disposals, 11 marks and four tackles, as well as a brave smother in the fourth quarter to deny Suns youngster Elijah Hollands a goal.

"Probably the most consistent player I've ever coached," Simpson said.

"He's been carrying injuries all year and just never complains. Just always turns up.

"He's been a quality person and he hasn't let us down at all in his career.

"Unfortunately we couldn't get over the line for him today but the boys tried."

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