What more can be said about the West Coast Eagles champion?
Bringing the curtain down on a brilliant career in 2022, Kennedy bowed out in a manner that befitted an all-time Eagles great.
Not only did ‘JK’ bag eight goals – the equal fourth-biggest haul of his 293-game career – in his final outing against Adelaide, he also hung the boots up as the club’s leading goalkicker for a record eighth time.
Kennedy only played 15 matches as his increasingly sore knee gave him grief, but the bearded Eagle still nailed 37 majors in a team that only won two games.
He also polled the maximum three Brownlow votes on two occasions – in the round 15 victory over Essendon when he drilled five goals and in his farewell match.
Kennedy finished up with 723 goals, placing him 22nd on the all-time VFL/AFL list.
An Eagles forward line without the club's all-time leading goalkicker in 2023 will certainly take some getting used to.
Standout performance: Going out with a bang
If there was one unforgettable highlight from 2022 it was without a shadow of a doubt the champ’s farewell game.
After a huge build-up, Kennedy put the distractions of a busy week of well wishes behind him to deliver an all-time goodbye performance, bagging eight goals and almost dragging West Coast over the line against Adelaide.
From the moment Kennedy appeared walking through the tunnel with his daughters and the Optus Stadium crowd erupted, there was a spinetingling feeling to the day.
In typical style, the champion big man delivered everything his adoring fans could have hoped for, kicking goals in every quarter, including some brilliant long-range set shots amid some awestruck celebrations from his teammates.
Barely a person had left Optus Stadium when the dual Coleman medallist was chaired from the field by Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey on a day at the footy to savour.
Season averages
Disposals – 8.9
Score involvements – 4.9
Marks – 3.9
Goals – 2.5
Marks on lead – 1.7
