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Des Kennedy (Australian footballer, born 1944)

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Des Kennedy
Personal information
Full name Des J. Kennedy
Date of birth (1944-03-11) 11 March 1944 (age 80)
Date of death October 2023
Place of death Queensland
Original team(s) Sandringham
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Follower
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1965–1970 St Kilda 56 (26)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1970.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Des Kennedy (born 11 March 1944) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Kennedy, aged just 19, won the "best and fairest" award at Sandringham in 1963. He had played senior football with the Victorian Football Association (VFA) club since 1960 and was a member of their 1962 premiership team, kicking the decisive goal in a one point grand final triumph.[1]

A follower, Kennedy started his St Kilda career in 1965 and played in all 20 games that they played that season.[2] This included the 1965 VFL Grand Final, where Kennedy ended up in the losing side. Although St Kilda broke through for their inaugural premiership in 1966, Kennedy was absent, having injured his knee in the semi-final against Collingwood.[3]

He finished his career back at Sandringham and won "best and fairest" again in 1973. The following season he announced his retirement, with 101 VFA games to his name. He was inducted into the Sandringham Hall of Fame in 2014.[4]

A son, Matthew Kennedy, played with both the Brisbane Bears and Brisbane Lions.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zebras Back From The Brink". John Devaney.
  2. ^ AFL Tables: Des Kennedy
  3. ^ The Age, "Don's training a guide on Davis", 14 September 1966, p. 1
  4. ^ "A further 10 members were inducted into the Sandringham Football Club Hall of Fame tonight". 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  5. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.