Josh Kennedy (footballer, born 1988)


Joshua P. Kennedy is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League. He previously played for the Hawthorn Football Club.
The son and grandson of former Hawthorn players, Kennedy was originally recruited to Hawthorn in the 2006 national draft under the father–son rule. He debuted for the club during the 2008 season, but was traded to Sydney prior to the 2010 season, having played 13 games for Hawthorn. An inside midfielder, Kennedy has since become a star player for Sydney. He has won the Bob Skilton Medal three times as the club's best and fairest and also played in a premiership in 2012. Kennedy has been named in the All-Australian team on three occasions in addition to finishing third in the 2014 and 2017 Brownlow Medal counts. He has served as captain of Sydney since the 2017 season.

Early years

Kennedy is the son of John Kennedy Jr., a former Hawthorn player and grandson of John Kennedy Sr., an Australian Football Hall of Fame member. He graduated from Xavier College in Kew, Victoria in 2006, having also played for the Ashburton Junior Football Club as a youngster.

AFL career

Hawthorn (2008–2009)

In mid-2006 it was announced that he would be recruited in the 2006 AFL Draft by the Hawthorn Football Club for the 2007 season, under the father-son rule. Kennedy made his debut for the club in round nine of the 2008 season. He played two further games in his debut season, and ten the following season, but was traded to Sydney at the end of the 2009 season, along with Ben McGlynn, with Hawthorn receiving draft picks 39, 46, and 70 in exchange.

Sydney (2010–present)

In late 2009, Kennedy was offered a three-year deal by the Sydney Swans. Kennedy accepted the offer, as the Swans' offered him more opportunity to play senior football than Hawthorn, who had many players similar to Kennedy. He was traded to the Swans along with teammate Ben McGlynn for 2009 AFL Draft picks 39, 46 and 70. Kennedy capped a fantastic year by finishing 3rd in the Sydney Swans Best & Fairest, behind winner Kieren Jack and runner-up Shane Mumford. Kennedy was also awarded the Paul Roos Award for best player in the finals series.
Kennedy followed up his outstanding debut year in Sydney with another very consistent season in 2011. Despite a relatively slow start, Kennedy hit top form in the 2nd half of the year to finish equal 2nd with Rhyce Shaw in the Bob Skilton Medal. Kennedy further enhanced his growing reputation around the league with 2 more outstanding performances in the Swans' finals games against St.Kilda and Hawthorn.
Kennedy had his most consistent year in 2012 earning himself his first All-Australian team selection. Kennedy won the Brett Kirk Medal in round one. Kennedy polled in equal eighth place in the Brownlow Medal, with 19 votes - the most of any Sydney player. He played in Sydney's Grand Final winning team, where he had 26 disposals and kicked two goals. He also won the Sydney Best & Fairest with votes to win by a massive 172 votes from 2nd Ted Richards and 3rd Ryan O'Keefe, managing to consistently poll votes in each round.
Kennedy's 2015 season was rewarded with his second Bob Skilton Medal. He won the best and fairest for the second consecutive year in 2016.
In 2016, Kennedy won his 3rd All-Australian selection, 3rd Bob Skilton Medal and was awarded the inaugural Gary Ayres Award for best player in the 2016 finals series.
On 9 December 2016, Kennedy was named the new captain of the club, taking over from previous co-captains Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh. He finished third in the 2017 Brownlow Medal, polling more votes than any other Sydney player.
On 25 June 2020, Kennedy played his 250th AFL game against the Western Bulldogs at the Sydney Cricket Ground; his grandfather John Kennedy Sr. passed away on the morning of the game, aged 91.

Statistics

Led the league after finals only
Led the league after season and finals

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019
! colspan=3| Career
! 246
! 148
! 142
! 2754
! 3732
! 6486
! 657
! 1307
! 0.6
! 0.6
! 11.2
! 15.2
! 26.4
! 2.7
! 5.3
! 125

Honours and achievements

Team
Individual
Kennedy's paternal grandmother has Italian heritage and referred to his late grandfather John Kennedy Sr. as Nonno.
His mother Bernadette also has an Italian background. Through his mother, Kennedy is the grandson of former St Kilda footballer Felix Russo and nephew of former Hawthorn and St Kilda footballer Peter Russo. Kennedy is the first cousin of former St Kilda and Collingwood footballer Luke Ball.
In January 2012, Kennedy started dating Colombian native Ana Calle, who is four years his senior. In April 2015, Calle gave birth to their first child, a boy named Emilio. In November 2015, the couple married in Calle's hometown of Medellín. In March 2019, Calle gave birth to their second child, a girl named Isabella.