Two of the most decorated players in West Coast Eagles history will continue their stellar careers into the 2022 season.
True leaders at either end of the ground, record-breaking forward Josh Kennedy and 2018 premiership captain Shannon Hurn have agreed to one-year contracts.
Hurn, who became the first Eagle to play 300 games deep into the 2021 season against Collingwood at the MCG, has been a mainstay in the back half since making his debut in the premiership season of 2006.
An elite distributor of the ball, the 34-year-old half-back, who was club captain from 2015 to 2019 remains a strong voice and influence around the senior squad.
He is a dual all-Australian, has won three Glendinning-Allan Medals in RAC derbies against Fremantle and was runner-up in the Club Champion Award in 2009.
Of course, the pinnacle of his list of achievements – along with Kennedy – was the 2018 premiership triumph over Collingwood.
A series of soft tissue injuries frustrated Hurn last season, but he still played 15 matches and will now build on his games record that sits at 301.
Kennedy, a dual Coleman medallist who has been the club’s leading goal-kicker seven times, also holds the record for the most goals in club history (675). He is a three-time all-Australian and Glendinning-Allan medallist as best on ground in RAC derbies against Fremantle.
He has played 256 games for the club since arriving at the Eagles courtesy of perhaps the most famous trade in history, returning to WA from Carlton and Eagles premiership captain Chris Judd going the other way.
Vice-captain in his own right or in a shared capacity since 2014, he was also runner-up Club Champion in 2016 and carries deep respect within the club.
The 34-year-old key forward played 18 games last season and continued to lead by example inside the forward 50, kicking 41 goals.
*The club would also like to confirm that young midfielder Xavier O’Neill re-signed until at least the end of the 2023 season.
O’Neill, 21, has played 13 games since making his debut in round 13, 2020 against GWS and is viewed as an integral part of the club’s future..
