Will Schofield: Farewell to Josh Kennedy, the greatest West Coast Eagle of all time

It was the summer of 2007, my second pre-season at West Coast. Our captain, Chris Judd, had just been traded to Carlton and in return we received a slather of picks and a promising yet gangly key position forward, Josh Kennedy.

Although there was strong optimism Kennedy would develop into a good player, he hadn’t proven a lot in his two years in the AFL and he was certainly no Brownlow-winning captain.

With no new draftees at the club at the time, I was a part of a group of still first-year players who felt like we were the gatekeepers of good times. We invited Josh over to one of the boys’ houses for a couple of beers to get to know him. After losing Juddy, we were hoping his replacement would at least be a good bloke (even if he couldn’t play like him).

We all thought we were as hard as nails, probably sipping on a couple of middies waiting for this new kid from Northampton to come over.

A knock at the door and some big footsteps down the hallway. JK had arrived.

Through the doorway he stepped. Shaggy hair, a printed surf brand collared shirt, washed out jeans, white belt, thongs and a pair of wrap-around sunnies. To top it off, straddled over both shoulders were two slabs of Emu export.

“G’day fellas!” he exclaimed. In what seemed like one swift movement, he put both cases down, pulled a chair up for himself, got the beers on ice and cracked a can.

We got to know Kenners well that evening. We even plotted to teach this new kid a lesson. It must have been all for show we thought, he couldn’t be that good of a drinker and that good of a bloke, could he?

Young and dumb, we made a pact to take turns shouting Josh drinks that night at a bar, challenging him to a skol and then rotating. Some sort of initiation where victory would be ours and JK would tap out and go home first.

Josh was the last one standing that night. He had passed our test with flying colours. We also had our answer to his drinking and good bloke status.

You’ve all seen Kennedy’s football rap sheet. Seven-time West Coast leading goal-kicker, two-time Coleman Medallist, three-time All-Australian, West Coast’s all-time leading goal-kicker and of course a 2018 premiership-winner.

He has been an incredible footballer on the field, known for his strong hands and massive presence as a big key forward in the league over 17 years. Fans grew accustomed to his booming right foot to finish his work, even with the infamous stutter stepping in the middle somewhere, he was always a reliable kick in front of goal.

But talent and ability can only take you so far.

Josh Kennedy is the hardest working player I’ve had the pleasure to be around as a teammate. His work ethic at training was second-to-none. His leading patterns, his infinite motor, his clean hands, his accuracy in front of goal, his ability for long parts of his career to chase and tackle like a small forward. All of these things don’t happen just because of his skill and talent. He worked harder than anyone else and reaped the rewards of his hard work.

One particular session sticks in my mind, one that truly represents Josh Kennedy as a player and a person.

January 2020, my last pre-season, it was a long hot Perth morning and we were coming to the last drill of training. The group hadn’t trained very well and as we walked to the last drill Kenners, in his usual calm nature had a quiet word in my ear – we need to set the standard here, show the young boys how to do it.

I was well accustomed to these challenges from Josh. I was fortunate enough to play with him more than any other Eagle, but that meant I was usually training on him in the pre-season. So by the tone of his voice, I knew this was serious.

It was a drill that required three maximum effort leads, defender versus forward, with the final contest a one-on-one mark at the top of the goalsquare.

No words were needed, we just pushed to the front of the group and went hammer and tongs for around 60 seconds. It still stands as the hardest individual efforts I’ve ever done. I scrapped and I scragged and did my best to quell him. I had to be physical with Kennedy; there was no other way to compete with him. After at least 17 free kicks against me in three efforts, I had brought the ball to ground each time. I was on top. We sprinted goalwards for the final contest, I had him covered, right with him and he was tired too.

My bread and butter, one-on-one against a tired opponent.

Ball in the air, I couldn’t have been better positioned.

But with a flick of the hips and some sort of sorcery only JK knew, I found myself on the backfoot.

It had all happened in an instant.

He marked the ball. I still don’t know how. I feel like I still haven’t gotten up from that drill. It was almost two years ago.

He wasn’t a ranter and a raver, but his expectations on the track were very high. He expected everyone to work as hard as he did and often knew they couldn’t. It was a mental edge that I’m not even sure he knew he had over almost everyone he played with or against. Training on Kennedy made me a better player.

No matter who I marked up on in games, I knew it could not possibly be harder than training on JK.

I’ve since been told this clip was shown at other clubs as the standard to match in season 2020. For me the clip is something I’ll probably show my grandkids: “The day I gave everything in me to beat Josh Kennedy and still couldn’t”.

He has been a great bloke and friend of mine from our very first meeting. He has been a great footballer from the very first time I trained on him. But most importantly Josh Kennedy is a great human being.

Kind, generous, a family man – he is acutely aware of how much his family has sacrificed to allow him to chase his dreams. It’s a selfish occupation being an elite athlete, but he is not a selfish person. He has time for everybody, has been an incredible leader at West Coast and will be a voice sorely missed within that locker room.

People like Josh Kennedy are irreplaceable.

I look forward to having a beer in the stands with my old mate. I‘ve been saving his seat for a couple of years now.

Congratulations on an incredible career mate. In my eyes, the greatest Eagle of all time.