Not even a torn anterior cruciate ligament will stop AFL clubs drafting Kemp, who has spent the past two years at the prestigious football school to fine-tune his game.
Kemp, 18, is targeting a return to playing as early as May next year and has been assured by clubs his injury will not stop them picking him - making forecasting his next home an impossible task.
He has been linked with Melbourne and Hawthorn - the team he supports - with picks 10 and 11, while remaining in Geelong could also be an option with the Cats having picks 14 and 17.
While a season-ending knee injury might rattle some mentally, Kemp has kept a cool head and remains laser-focused on getting his knee right at the beginning of his AFL journey.
“(Rehabilitation) is going really well so far, I'll be seeing my surgeon Julian Feller (today) and he'll give me another rundown on how it's tracking, three and a half months after it's happened,” Kemp said.
“That reassurance from clubs was really good, for any player wanting to get drafted an ACL is pretty upsetting, so it really helped.
“Initially I was pretty upset, but I do pride myself on being a positive person and I've got a really good support network around me.”
Standing 193cm tall, Kemp's smooth-moving nature makes him a genuine utility; a key post at either end of the ground is on the cards, or he could take the big-bodied midfielder approach much like Marcus Bontempelli (192cm) or Patrick Cripps (195cm).
Injury did not prevent him being named in the NAB League team of the year, while under-18 All-Australian selection and a match-winning goal in the National Championships stand out as other season highlights.
While his injury stopped his Association Public Schools season with Grammar in its tracks, Kemp maintained accepting a scholarship at the elite school with fellow high-end talents Thomson Dow and Caleb Serong had been the perfect decision.
“It was awesome - the best thing I've done and the best decision I've made,” he said.
“It's seriously helped me with my footy ability, and with Thomson and Caleb there we've really improved each other. But there's still that competitive element with each other, and I think that's really healthy.
“It's the best thing I've done so far for my footy, but also academically.”
One switched-on individual, Kemp took his education seriously, insisting the opportunity to study at a great school was not one he would take for granted.
Having left his hometown once before, being uprooted once again does not scare the former Murray Bomber - but Echuca will always hold a place in his heart.
“The town has been so great for me; Echuca is a really tight-knit group, and everyone always welcomes me back there when I'm at the footy club,” he said.
“That's where the roots of my career are and the club has been nothing short of sensational.”
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