Legendary West Coast forward Josh Kennedy announces AFL retirement after glittering career for Eagles

Speculation about West Coast goalkicker Josh Kennedy’s playing future has raged for a long time but he has finally made a call.

Josh Kennedy will retire as West Coast’s greatest goalkicker. Picture: Getty Images

West Coast great Josh Kennedy has one last wish before entering the football afterlife on Sunday – a victory to help avoid another wooden spoon.

Kennedy broke the news to his teammates on Tuesday morning that he would play his 293rd and final match this weekend against Adelaide in Perth.

The soon-to-be 35-year-old is already the Eagles’ greatest goalkicker with 704, on top of being a dual Coleman medallist, leading the club’s goalkicking seven times and being an All-Australian on three occasions.

He was also a pivotal member of West Coast’s thrilling 2018 premiership triumph over Collingwood, after suffering through a 46-point grand final defeat to Hawthorn three years earlier.

Sunday’s match will be Kennedy’s 271st for the Eagles, moving him past Darren Glass into outright fourth at the club, behind only Glen Jakovich (276), Dean Cox (290) and Shannon Hurn (317 games and counting).

Making the call was “pretty tough” but he said he would retire content with everything he achieved, especially because of his knee issues, after speaking to coach Adam Simpson about his future as far back as June.

“Mentally, the drive is still there to keep playing, but physically, the body is just telling me to stop,” Kennedy said.

West Coast forward Josh Kennedy had plenty to celebrate in his decorated football career. Getty Images

“It’s probably sitting on that empty bit where your fuel gauge kind of sits there flashing red with zero kays, but you still drive a bit. You’ve probably got about 30km left.”

Kennedy played the first 22 games of his AFL career for Carlton after being the No.4 pick in the 2005 draft, before being traded home in a blockbuster deal two years later that made midfield superstar Chris Judd a Blue.

West Coast also secured the draft pick used on premiership player Chris Masten, who played 215 games.

Kennedy’s extraordinary achievements and longevity mean most people believe the Eagles won the deal despite Judd being a mammoth loss at the time and winning a second Brownlow Medal.

He thanked his family, including wife Lauren and daughters Sage and Lottie, coaches John Worsfold and Adam Simpson, club staff and his teammates for their support, and listed the 2018 flag as his highlight.

“To be able to reflect back now on my career in football and walk away with a medal around your neck is something I’m truly grateful for – and thank Dommy (Sheed for his matchwinner),” Kennedy said.

Josh Kennedy, pictured with Liam Ryan, is one of the best West Coast players ever. Picture: Getty Images

“But what we’ve been able to achieve as a footy club over the course of my tenure has been amazing ... we’ve been quite successful and I’m pretty grateful to be a part of that journey.

“I’ve won two wooden spoons and been in two grand finals – spanked in one and we won one – so I’ve kind of seen it all and been on the rollercoaster, up and down.”

Kennedy said playing in front of home fans one last time was the “perfect” way to go out but he also hoped to retire on a high.

“A win would be nice,” he said.

“Like I said, I’ve had two wooden spoons and we’re sitting just above the bottom (this season), so another win will help us not finish down in that area. It’d be nice not to win a third wooden spoon.”

Kennedy’s retirement follows Fremantle games record-holder David Mundy announcing on Monday that he was calling time on his career at season’s end.

Port Adelaide’s Steven Motlop also retired on Tuesday morning.

Originally published as Legendary West Coast forward Josh Kennedy announces AFL retirement after glittering career for Eagles