Career : 2006 - 2007
Debut : Round 6, 2006 vs Collingwood, aged 18 years, 255 days
Carlton Player No. 1093
Games : 22
Goals : 11
Last Game : Round 22, 2007 vs Melbourne, aged 20 years, 8 days
Guernsey No. 5
Height : 195 cm (6 ft. 4 in.)
Weight : 93 kg (14 stone, 9 lbs.)
DOB : 25 August, 1987
For the recent generations of Carlton supporters, the name Josh Kennedy conjures mixed emotions. While he was a pivotal figure in the deal that brought Chris Judd to Princes Park, we were all somewhat sorry to see him traded to West Coast after the 2007 season. The ramifications of Kennedy’s departure however, were enormous. The Eagles picked up a very promising young key forward and two early draft picks, but Carlton landed a recognised champion and a ready-made captain who, coincidently, slotted straight into the number 5 guernsey vacated by big Josh.
Kennedy was a prized selection at number 4 in the 2005 National Draft. A big, raw-boned prospect from East Fremantle, he would have been given an opportunity at senior level earlier in 2006 had he not been hampered by a pre-season shoulder injury. At times he looked like a big, long-legged puppy on the football field, but he had courage, took some terrific contested marks, and probably would have played more than nine senior games but for the punctured lung that prematurely ended his debut season.
He came back into the senior side for the first seven matches straight in 2007, then was given regular spells with the Bullants until a thigh muscle tear kept him out again until round 21. His last two matches were among Josh’s best for the Blues, leaving a good impression when his name hit the headlines at season’s end as a likely trade for arguably the best player in the game at that time.
The media frenzy that ensued culminated in Carlton trading Kennedy and 2007 National Draft selections 3 and 20 to West Coast, in return for Chris Judd and pick 46 – which the Blues subsequently used to recruit another West Australian in Dennis Armfield.
Kennedy’s bad luck with injuries followed him to WA in 2008 and he managed only seven games. But in 2009 he was a revelation as a hard-leading centre half-forward, and kicked 31 goals in 16 matches. At the end of that season his efforts were rewarded when he was included in the Eagles leadership group for 2010. Ultimately 'JK' became a Premiership Player and 200 gamer for the Eagles...
Originally recruited from Northampton, WA.
Career Highlights
2007 Pre-Season Premiership PlayerLinks
Articles: Carlton's Top Tenners | X-Blues: Blues reps playing finals for new ClubsBlueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Josh Kennedy | Career Breakdown for Josh Kennedy | Kennedy's Blueseum Image Gallery