Like many others, taking to the MCG in Saturday afternoon’s Grand Final against Hawthorn will be the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for Sydney Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy.
Originally drafted to Hawthorn, where the Kennedy name carries a regal legacy courtesy of the contributions of his grandfather John Snr and father John Jnr, the 24-year-old Swan has blossomed in his three years since moving north to Sydney at the end of 2009.
Last night Kennedy advanced his reputation further with a top-ten finish in the Brownlow Medal, but for him, Saturday afternoon will be the defining moment of his career to date, and he’s ready to enjoy the experience.
“It’s something that I’ve always dreamt of as a kid,” Kennedy said to a packed media throng at the SCG this morning.
“I’ve just got to try and soak it all up, but be as focused as I can be on Saturday and what we’re here to do - and that’s just one more game, two more hours, and hopefully a win to finish off a great season.
“Internally I think we’re just ultra-determined. We know we’ve got the opportunity that we’ve got at the moment.
“Speaking to a lot of people at the club and in the family, these things don’t come around very often, so you’ve got to make the most of it.
“From now, it’s having no regrets and doing everything we can and leaving nothing out there on Saturday.”
Kennedy has been a colossus in his six previous finals with the Swans averaging just under 28 disposals, including last Friday night’s best-on-ground performance against Collingwood in the Preliminary Final which saw the Swans’ number 12 rack up 30 possessions - 19 of which were contested - four marks, five tackles and two crucial goals.
Kennedy believes that if he, and his fellow Swans team mates, can bring the same approach to the Grand Final as what got them there in the first place they can match it with Hawthorn in the contest.
“I think in the last few weeks we’ve internally been really confident with the way we’ve come into the finals (with) our preparation and the games that we’ve played,” he said.
“On the weekend (against Collingwood) our pressure was right up there and if we can bring that intensity it will go a long way to winning the game.”
The Swans have had two epic encounters with Hawthorn so far in 2012, splitting the ledger with one win and one loss apiece. The last meeting between the two clubs on the MCG was in last year’s Semi Final where Hawthorn proved too strong advancing to a Preliminary Final by 36 points.
Kennedy says a lot has changed for the Swans since then and is confident the team will bring their best to the home of football on Saturday.
“With another pre-season and another season, our list is really fit and we’ve got a great mix of inside/outside players, young and old players,” he said.
“I think we’re really gelling together at the moment and we’re playing some of our best football at the moment too, so hopefully we can put it all together on Saturday and knock over the Hawks.”
Despite the Swans not tasting victory at the MCG since round 19, 2009, Kennedy was quick to dismiss any talk of an ‘MCG hoodoo’.
“I think we’ve knocked over a few hoodoos in the last few weeks, so hopefully we can do it again this weekend,” Kennedy said about the team’s perceived recent poor form against Adelaide and Collingwood.
“We don’t think about it really, it hasn’t come up in discussion at all. We’ll just concentrate on the processes and hopefully it takes care of its self.”
