A West Coast forward line without Josh Kennedy is going to take some getting used to.
For the past 15 seasons, the Eagles champion has been a reassuring presence in attack; the type of generational marking target every team searches for as the key piece to build a premiership team around.
No matter the stage, opposition, conditions or battles with his own body, if Kennedy put his hand up to play then Eagles fans always believed victory was achievable.
He will leave a massive hole at full-forward, and around the club, but the 34-year-old’s legacy will endure.
And when he hangs up the boots after Sunday’s clash against Adelaide at Optus Stadium, the Eagles’ all-time leading goalkicker will boast some truly remarkable career statistics, and some records that may not be broken for a long time.
With four quarters left in his glorious career, these are the key numbers from Kennedy’s 292 games so far:
704 – Goals kicked as an Eagle. Kennedy’s club record tally puts him 190 majors ahead of dual premiership full-forward Peter Sumich (514) and long-time sidekick Jack Darling (currently 479).
270 – Games in blue and gold. Equal-fourth in club history alongside Darren Glass. Only Shannon Hurn (currently 317), Dean Cox (290) and Glen Jakovich (276) have played more for the Eagles.
146 – Wins for West Coast. A winning percentage of 54.
102 – Matches at Subiaco Oval. West Coast won 63 of the matches Kennedy played at the club’s old home ground, making it a feared venue for opposition teams.
50 – Games played at Optus Stadium. Kennedy’s last hurrah will be his 50th appearance at the Eagles’ new nest, where he has averaged 2.79 goals per game (137 goals in 49 games), matching his Subiaco Oval average (2.79 goals per game. 285 goals in 102 games).
26 – Clashes with Collingwood. As a skinny 18-year-old he debuted against Collingwood for Carlton in round one, 2006 and played in some massive games against the Pies – most notably the 2018 qualifying and Grand Final – while wearing blue and gold. Kennedy will have faced Fremantle and Adelaide on 21 occasions each after Sunday's finale against the Crows.
25 – Most disposals in a game. Kennedy and great mate Mark LeCras both had 25 disposals against the Brisbane Lions in round one, 2016 at Subiaco Oval, while combining for 10 majors – eight of them to the big full-forward – in a 64-point triumph. Kennedy’s 16 marks was also a personal best.
24th – On the all-time VFL/AFL goalkicking list. Heading into the Crows clash Kennedy – who kicked 11 goals in 22 games for Carlton - is one major behind ageless Geelong powerhouse Tom Hawkins and trailing retired St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt by three.
11 – Most goals in a game. Kennedy booted an incredible 11-straight majors against Greater Western Sydney in round eight, 2014 at Subiaco Oval. The Eagles won by 111 points and kicked 30 goals for the only time in club history. Kennedy also bagged 10 goals twice – against the Dogs in 2011 and Blues in 2015.
7 – Club leading goalkicker awards. Equal-most with Peter Sumich. He is currently tied with four-time leading goalkicker Jack Darling on 29 goals this season.
4 – Pick in the draft. The promising teenager was taken by Carlton with pick No.4 overall in the 2005 national draft from East Fremantle. Kennedy represented the Blues on 22 occasions before being part of the famous Chris Judd trade at the end of 2007.
3 – All-Australian blazers. Kennedy was named vice-captain of the team of the year in 2015 and ’17, and also named at full-forward in ’16 team.
2 – Coleman Medals. The bearded Eagle led the AFL for goals in 2015 and ’16, booting 80 and 82 majors respectively.
1 – Premiership medallion. Kennedy drilled three critical goals in the 2018 Grand Final, the only Eagle to kick multiple majors, and delivered on the biggest stage of all to crown a truly remarkable career with the ultimate reward.
