AFL legend John Kennedy Snr dies aged 91 – leaving behind a legacy as the greatest coach in Hawthorn’s history
- Hawthorn legend John Kennedy Snr died peacefully on Thursday morning
- He was recently elevated to legend status in the Australian football hall of fame
- The Hawks announced the 91-year-old's death in a statement on Thursday
Triple premiership winning Hawthorn Legend John Kennedy Snr has died aged 91.
The Hawthorn player who was recently elevated to legend status in the Australian football hall of fame legend passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, the club announced in a statement.
Kennedy Snr, who was a captain, then coach and administrator at the Melbourne club, was remembered as a man of 'extraordinary humility with strong family values, who left a lasting legacy', the club said.
Triple premiership winning Hawthorn Legend John Kennedy Snr has died aged 91
The Hawthorn player who was recently elevated to legend status in the Australian football hall of fame legend passed away peacefully on Thursday morning
Kennedy Snr, who was a captain, then coach and administrator at the Melbourne club, was remembered as a man of 'extraordinary humility with strong family values, who left a lasting legacy'
'On behalf of the Kennedy family, Hawthorn Football Club is deeply saddened to inform the football community of the passing of AFL Legend John Kennedy Snr,' the statement read.
'Hawthorn and the entire football community extend their deepest condolences to the Kennedy family and ask that their privacy is respected during this time.'
Kennedy Snr started his career with the Hawks in 1950 and went on to win the best and fairest in his first ever season.
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He won three more best and fairest awards in 1951, 1952 and 1954 and was a three-time premiership coach.
After playing 164 games, and spending his last five seasons as captain of the Hawks, Kennedy Snr retired in 1959.
He was immediately made coach and quickly built up a legacy as the greatest coach in the club's history, taking the team to their first ever premiership win in 1961.
Hawks players walk past the John Kennedy statue during a Hawthorn Hawks AFL media session
Kennedy Snr started his career with the Hawks in 1950 and went on to win the best and fairest in his first ever season
After two more premiership wins in 1971 and 1976 he retired from coaching to spend more time with his family.
But Kennedy Snr shocked the AFL world in 1985 when he agreed to coach North Melbourne and led the Kangaroos to the finals twice in his five years coaching.
He was appointed chairman of the AFL Commission in 1993 and stayed in the role for five years before returning to support the Hawks on a weekly basis.
His son, John Jnr played for the Hawks between 1979 and 1991, participating in four premierships.
Kennedy Snr's grandson Josh Kennedy also debuted for the Hawks in 2008 before moving to the Sydney Swans in 2010.
The youngest Kennedy star is due to play his 250th AFL match on Thursday night.
Josh Kennedy (middle), son of four-time premiership player John Kennedy Junior (right) and grandson of three-time premiership coach John Kennedy Senior (left)
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