Josh Kennedy was born into a family of Hawthorn greats but has spent the bulk of the past decade creating a story of his own.

And the hard-nosed 30-year-old midfielder last week rubber-stamped his pursuit when appointed as one of three Sydney Swans co-captains for season 2019.

Midfielder Luke Parker and defender Dane Rampe were last Friday announced as co-captains alongside Kennedy, who in 2017 and 2018 led the Swans to back-to-back finals campaigns in his two seasons as sole skipper.

Kennedy played 13 games for the Hawks across 2008 and 2009, the club at which his grandfather John Kennedy Sr (1950s) and father John Kennedy Jr (1980s) had both etched their names in folklore.

Kennedy, who swapped Hawks colours for red and white ahead of season 2010, said Parker and Rampe were highly deserved of their co-captaincy appointments. 

“It’s clear they’ve been playing at the top end for a long time,” Kennedy said.

“They’re both All Australians and have a couple of Bob Skilton Medals between them, so there was no question about what they’ve been able to produce on the field.

“But it was their leadership off the field that has just continued to go to another level. They’ve already been a huge support of mine over the past two years, and there’s no doubt the co-captaincy will take that to a new level.”

Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack led the charge as co-captains between 2013 and 2016, before Kennedy stepped up to the plate as the first sole Swans skipper since Stuart Maxfield in 2005.

Kennedy played in Sydney’s 2012 premiership triumph over Hawthorn and is a three-time All Australian, while he’s also a three-time winner of the esteemed Bob Skilton Medal, awarded to the Swans’ best and fairest.

Kennedy, who sits on 227 career games ahead of season 2019, also notched his 200^th Swans match as Sydney took on Fremantle at the SCG in Round 9, 2018.

The battle-hardened Swan said he relished the opportunity to lead the red and white on his own, but he says he cannot wait to see the impact the three 2019 co-captains can have together.

“I did enjoy the honour and responsibility of being sole skipper,” Kennedy said.

“But at the same time, I’m more excited about the opportunity for Luke and Dane, as well as what I think we can achieve together. We’re three different personalities, and we bring different aspects of leadership to the table, so hopefully combined we can continue to drive this group in the right direction.”