There doesn't come much better in modern-day football than Sydney Swans skipper Josh Kennedy.

The 29-year-old will line up for game 200 against Hawthorn on Friday night, ironically the same side the son of a gun started his carer with.

Following in the footsteps of his father Josh Kennedy Jr and grandfather Josh Kennedy Snr, Kennedy was destined to be a 200-game-plus player in brown and gold.

But, instead, Kennedy has forged his own path of which the Sydney Swans have had the pleasure of witnessing.

During such time he's won a premiership, three Bob Skilton medals, earned three All Australian nods and outmost respect of the AFL world far and wide.

Ahead of his milestone, we caught up with some figures close to Josh P. Kennedy to gain an intimate insight into the captain, the player and the man.

Ben McGlynn

It was the package deal that has delivered so much.

Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn were involved in a deal which saw the pair traded from Hawthorn to Sydney in exchange for picks 39, 46 and 70.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson couldn't guarantee Kennedy a regular spot in a midfield already boasting the likes of Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell.

Meanwhile, the front gates flew open at Sydney.

McGlynn and Kennedy struck up an unbreakable mateship almost immediately. They'd been more teammates than mates at the Hawks but moving to Sydney together made the decision easier and helped ease the transition.

"Sydney can thank me for helping to bring him across," McGlynn joked. Kennedy made no secret of the fact the move was one of the hardest decision he's ever had to face given the family ties with Hawthorn.

"It wasn't until we moved up to Sydney together that we struck up the close friendship we have today. We pretty much stuck together from day one.

"We didn't really discuss it as friends or teammates to go across as a package, but I'm more than happy to put it together as a package because of the way he's played. It wasn't until a few hours before the trade went through that I found out Josh was part of the deal.

"It soon made things pretty exciting knowing I had a teammate and familiar face coming on the new adventure."

"I would have loved to have spent time playing under Josh as captain" - Ben McGlynn

Dan Hannebery

When Dan Hannebery’s time as an AFL player comes to an end, whenever that may be, there’ll be a collection of people who’ve had more of an impact on his football career than others.

When that time comes, he’ll put Josh Kennedy in that select group.

“To this day he’s had a huge impact on my football and life,” he said ahead of his good mate’s 200th game. “And I can’t see that changing.”

Hannebery and Kennedy have formed quite the partnership since the latter’s arrival in 2009. You can see it before, during and after every game.

The pair often warm up together, whether it’s a kick-to-kick or some quick-fire handballs to get the blood pumping and their minds in sync. Their preparation seems to pay off too, there’s rarely a time when they’re both not in a contest or performing at their optimum. Then they’ll either revel in the win together or consol one another after a defeat.

During the week Kennedy is always within arm's reach if one's in need of a bit of guidance either. Even before the captaincy was bestowed on him, he was showing all the hallmarks as a genuine leader.

“Week to week, his ability to read situations around how the team’s going, how you’re going, what you need to do, how you can improve as a leader, player or person was sound … he’s always got great words of advice,” Hannebery added.

“Often they’re not long conversations at all, just one or two sentences, straight to the point and off you go, but that’s all it needed to be.

“He definitely leads by his actions. But in the same token, while he may not be as vocal as others, when Joey speaks, people listen.”

 
"He's been probably the one who's led our resurgence this season" - Dan Hannebery

John Longmire

A question was put to John Longmire, Kennedy’s senior coach for the past seven years, at the end of 2016: Given the rare air his now skipper sits, thanks to his long list of accolades, has the time come to characterise the No. 12 as a great of the Sydney Swans Football Club? Or is his greatness still in the making?

Longmire didn’t hesitate.

“It’s not in the making anymore,” he said.

“His consistency to this point has been incredible. He’s a multiple best and fairest winner, multiple All Australian, plays well all year and plays well in finals, and does all that year in, year out.

“Not many players can say that.”

Longmire has coached many outstanding players during his time in the coaches' box, first as an assistant under Paul Roos then as head from 2011 to the present day. That calibre includes Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton, Jarrad McVeigh and Brett Kirk.

Kennedy is up there with the best.

As a coach who’s maintained an impeccable record over the journey, Longmire has had to roll with the punches or, in other words, as the game’s evolved he’s had to adapt his game plan and coaching style accordingly.

He sees a lot of the same qualities in Kennedy. As the demands on players have increased, Kennedy’s got even better. Longmire’s overseen his transformation from a midfield maestro to an undisputed midfield machine.

“I don’t think the game’s ever been fiercer, in terms of the pressure on players to be hard and clean,” Longmire explained.

“The game is scrutinised to an incredible degree now, everything you do is looked at through a microscope, and all teams now go extremely hard, both at the ball and at the man with the ball, so there’s nowhere to escape.

“His ability to stand up to that pressure all around him is second to none. He’s been one of the best operators in that environment.”

"It's fantastic for him to be able to lead this footy club the way he does ... he sets such a high standard for himself and this club" - John Longmire

Stuart Dew

Another former Hawk who arrived in Sydney in late 2009 was Stuart Dew.

Dew called Josh Kennedy a teammate at Hawthorn for two seasons (2008 and 2009) a period in which the pair's respective careers were at different ends of the spectrum.

Dew was coming off a deacade-long career with Port Adelaide and had given the game away before being coaxed out of retirement by Clarkson. His addition to the Hawks line-up, then on the cusp of a premiership, would prove impactful.

Kennedy meanwhile was a fresh-faced recruit who’d arrived at Waverley Park with huge expectations on his shoulders, but who was having a tough time of breaking into the senior side.

They'd play only two games together in brown and gold but a friendship would eventually develop from that first pre-season together at Sydney onwards where the two have worked in tandem as crucial members of the renowned midfield department.

He’s overseen Kennedy’s development as a player and leader, even more so since becoming the Sydney Swans’ midfield coach and senior assistant in 2013.

“He’s been the league’s most consistent player, in my mind, in his eight years at the footy club,” Dew said.

“He’s a big game player who has delivered time and time again on the big stage.

“He came to Sydney not really knowing how many game he’d play beyond his 13 at Hawthorn and now sits amongst the competition’s elite, both current and in history.

“He’s very coachable as well, always wanting to not only get the best out of himself but get the best out of those around him as well.

“He has a great understanding of what he needs to do, no matter the scenario, to help life himself and his teammates.”

"Seeing what he's developed into, on and off the field, makes you a proud mate" - Stuart Dew.