Born: December 29, 1928
Recruited: East Camberwell YCW FC
Played: 1950 – 1959
Debut Order: 401
First game: Round 1 1950
Last game: Round 18 1959
Games: 164
Goals: 29
Guernsey: 10
Captain: 1955 – 1959
Best & Fairest: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954
3rd Best & Fairest: 1957, 1958, 1959
Coach: 1960-1963, 1967-1976 (299 games)
Premierships: 1961, 1971, 1976
Night Premierships: 1968, 1969
Vice-President: 1981-1982
Chairman of Match Committee: 1980–1982
Life Member: 1959
Team of the Century: 2001 (Coach)
Hall of Fame – Legend of the Club: 2003

VFL/AFL Honours
State Captain: 1957
State Representative: 4
State Coach: 1973
Jock McHale Medal: 1961, 1971, 1976
VFL/AFL Life Member: 1979
AFL Hall of Fame: 1996 (Coach)
AFL Commissioner: 1993-1997

John Kennedy Snr won the Club’s Best and Fairest Award four times in his first five years as a player such was the worth of both his play and leadership to the team. Kennedy’s philosophies and approach to training would see him develop into one of the game’s greatest coaches. The 1961 flag, the Club’s first, epitomized the Kennedy spirit. This was followed by premierships in 1971 and 1976. In later years, he became an elder spokesman for the game serving as Chairman of the AFL Commission.