AFL Record – Round 21, 2022 – Josh Kennedy Special

KENNEDY BOWS OUT AN EAGLES LEGEND

FAREWELL JK: Champion full-forward Josh Kennedy will play his final game this week

ASHLEY BROWNE

If footy was played purely above

the head, then retirement for West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy was still several years away. But then there was his dicky knee, which was causing complication after complication and making it harder to come up every week.

So on Sunday at Optus Stadium, Kennedy will step out for his 293rd and final AFL game when the Eagles play Adelaide.

“I’ve loved this game for so long, so there’s probably a little bit left in the tank in terms of my headspace,” Kennedy, 34, said at his retirement media conference last Tuesday.

“But body-wise, it’s probably sitting on that empty bit where your fuel gauge is flashing red, but you still drive a bit and you’ve probably got 30km left.

“I’m pretty content with the decision based on the knee.

“It’s fine day-to-day, but it’s probably just being able to compete and train constantly and get up week-to-week.”

He finishes up as West Coast’s greatest full-forward and, by any measurement, one of the best players to suit up in blue and gold.

Celebrating the 2018 premiership

As a Blue in 2006

And while the Eagles were enormously disappointed to lose midfield superstar Chris Judd to Carlton at the prime of his career at the end of 2007, convincing Kennedy to return home to Western Australia after 22 games in two seasons for the Blues as part of the trade was an inspired move.

He has kicked 704 goals in 270 games for the Eagles, twice won the Coleman Medal, was a three-time All-Australian and a premiership player in 2018.

Kennedy was emotional when the conversation turned to his family and especially the sacrifices made by wife Lauren and daughters Sage and Lottie.

“As professional footballers and athletes, we become very selfish and it’s 24/7 constantly thinking about your body and how to get better and how to get the best out of yourself,” Kennedy said.

“We have so much focus on that, and with that you need balance.”

FACT FILE

JOSH KENNEDY

Born: August 25, 1987 Recruited from: Northampton (WA)/East Fremantle (WAFL)/ Carlton Debut: Round 6, 2006, v Collingwood Height: 196cm Weight: 102kg Games: 292 (Carl 22, WCE 270) Goals: 715 (Carl 11, WCE 704) Honours: 2nd West Coast best and fairest 2016; 3rd West Coast best and fairest 2013, 2015; All-Australian 2015 (vice-capt), 2016, 2017 (vice-capt); All-Australian nominee 2011, 2013; Coleman Medal 2015, 2016; West Coast leading goalkicker 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020; West Coast premiership side 2018; Carlton pre-season premiership side 2007. Brownlow Medal: career votes 84.