Win, lose or draw Swans supporters know Josh Kennedy will always give his all.
That’s what the Bloods’ faithful have come to expect ever since the former Hawk arrived in Sydney before the 2010 season.
The now Bob Skilton Medallist and premiership midfielder ticked off 150 career games – 137 for the Swans – on Sunday.
While it wasn’t the desired result, no one at Domain Stadium or watching on from Sydney could knock ‘Joey’s’ effort in after gathering 31 disposals and battling on against the tide.
The 27-year-old is, alongside Dan Hannebery, enjoying an exceptional season to date averaging a possession more than his Club Champion winning season of 2012.
It’s a level of consistency that has Kennedy on track to win another award and forced many to place Kennedy alongside the competition’s elite, fittingly next to the likes of Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe and West Coast’s Matt Priddis.
From a fringe player at the Hawks who managed a handful of games over two seasons to a bonafide star of the game, Kennedy believes the initial opportunity presented by then coach Paul Roos bred an inner self belief and a stage to perform.
From that Kennedy says his improvement is all due to a simple approach.
“Hawthorn had an extremely good team…it was a tough team to break into and I was a similar to a lot of other players at the time.
“There was a role for me in Sydney so going through my first preseason at the Swans knowing I was going to get an opportunity was a huge incentive.
“Initially I focused on playing to my strengths, making sure that was at the forefront of my mind and bring that every week.
“And then just building, building on that base, which I think I’ve been able to do pretty well.”
Assistant coach John Blakey couldn’t find enough praise for the highly valued and respected member of the Swans’ leadership group.
Never outspoken, Kennedy saves his best for the football field having single handedly willed Swans across the line in matches including when an under manned home side outlasted a surging Port Adelaide at the SCG.
Kennedy picked up 33 disposals (17 contested), 11 clearances and laid eight tackles while floating forward to kick two goals.
It was “one of the more polished performances” from a player all season, according to a neutral onlooker in the press box, and crucial to the Swans’ 10-point triumph that night.
As the Swans aim to recover from a harsh reality check, supporters will be calling on similar performances from Kennedy with a top four spot hangs in the balance.
And Kennedy will, undoubtedly, answer the call since that’s what the entire competition has come to expect ever since the now 150-gamer started his glowing career at the Swans.
