Retiring Sydney Swans champion Josh Kennedy hasn’t given up hope of a fairytale return during the AFL finals, but he doesn’t expect it to come to fruition.
Kennedy announced on Tuesday he will be retiring at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old made the decision last week and just days later injured his left hamstring while playing in the VFL.
Kennedy missed eight weeks earlier this season after tearing his right hamstring in round 10 and it remains to be seen how severe his latest setback is.
The 290-game veteran wasn’t able to break back into the AFL side in recent weeks and faces an uphill battle to win back a senior spot in the finals even if his latest hamstring injury isn’t a serious one.
Kennedy says he’s at peace with his fate, no matter what happens over the next seven weeks.
“It’s a hope, not an expectation,” Kennedy replied when asked about his bid to play again this year.
“If it doesn’t happen it doesn’t change anything. I’ve got nothing but love and admiration for the footy club.
“I’m very content with where I sit right now. At least I’d love to finish the year and train and feel part of it that way.
“I am (at peace). It’s as simple as that.”
If it was up to Kennedy he would have quietly walked away from the game at the end of the season and faded off “into the sunset”.
But coach John Longmire was having none of it.
“We just wanted to bring him out of himself because there’s so many people who want to say thank you and recognise his contribution to the footy club,” Longmire said.
“He’s been one of the greats and he deserves a terrific send-off.
“He is a big game player. He’s been fortunate enough to play 22 finals games and 16 of those times he’s had 15-plus contested possessions.
“That’s quite unique. In the 2016 grand final he didn’t get the preparation he would have loved, but he’s come in and had 34 (disposals) and kicked three goals.
“You knew what you were going to get out of Josh Kenedy every week during the home-and-away season and then you’d go into the finals and he’d go another level again.”
Kennedy played 13 games for Hawthorn, the club his father and grandfather were icons at, but moved to the Swans at the end of 2009 to seek greater opportunities.
It was a move Kennedy felt he needed to make and it reaped massive rewards.
Kennedy won three All-Australian jerseys, three best-and-fairest awards and a premiership during his time at the Swans.
He also finished third in the 2017 Brownlow medal.
Kennedy labelled Chris Judd, Nat Fyfe, Joel Selwood, Ben Cunnington, Scott Pendlebury, Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge as among the toughest players he’s lined up against.
JOSH KENNEDY
Age: 34
Games: 290 (13 at Hawthorn, 277 at Sydney)
All-Australian: 2012, 2014, 2016 (all at Sydney)
Best and Fairest: 2012, 2015, 2016 (all at Sydney)
Premiership: 2012 (Sydney)
