Hawthorn Football Club is incredibly saddened by the passing of club and AFL Legend John Kennedy Snr.
John was a man of extraordinary humility and strong family values.
He is not only woven into every thread of Hawthorn Football Club’s fabric, but he underpins the values that our Family Club is built upon.
President Jeff Kennett said:
“It is with deep regret, that our great leader and contributor, John Kennedy Snr; player, coach and educator, has left us.
John will live on within the Hawthorn Football Club forever.
He set and lived the standards that are the culture of the Family Club.
I extend the club’s and my condolences to his family.
John’s impact on the Hawthorn Football Club will be eternal and his legacy will always live on at Hawthorn.
So much of what Hawthorn is today, is because of the foundations John laid in yesteryears.
His booming voice will forever echo in the corridors of the football club and the legend of the man in the brown overcoat, with a heart of gold, will be passed down from generation to generation of the Hawthorn family."
The Board of Directors, Past Players and Officials Association, management, staff and players of Hawthorn Football Club extend their sincerest condolences to John’s children Maureen, John Jnr, Bernard, Patrick, and their extended family and friends at this sad time.
John Kennedy Snr was a four-time best and fairest winner as a player at Hawthorn between 1950-59, before coaching the club to its initial three premierships in 1961, 1971 and 1976.
After three premierships as a coach at Hawthorn, 'Kanga' joined North Melbourne in 1985, coaching the club across five seasons. He coached North 113 times between 1985 and 1989.
Vale, John.
John Kennedy Snr
Born: December 29, 1928
Recruited: East Camberwell YCW FC
Played: 1950 – 1959
Debut Order: 401
First game: Round 1 1950
Last game: Round 18 1959
Games: 164
Goals: 29
Guernsey: 10
Captain: 1955 – 1959
Best & Fairest: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954
3rd Best & Fairest: 1957, 1958, 1959
Coach: 1960-1963, 1967-1976 (299 games)
Premierships: 1961, 1971, 1976
Night Premierships: 1968, 1969
Vice-President: 1981-1982
Chairman of Match Committee: 1980–1982
Life Member: 1959
Team of the Century: 2001 (Coach)
Hall of Fame – Legend of the Club: 2003
Patron – HFC Past Players and Official Association
VFL/AFL Honours
State Captain: 1957
State Representative: 4
State Coach: 1973
Jock McHale Medal: 1961, 1971, 1976
VFL/AFL Life Member: 1979
AFL Hall of Fame: 1996 (Coach),
AFL Hall of Fame – Legend: 2020
AFL Commissioner: 1993-1997
