AFL: Champion Swan Josh Kennedy’s grand final bid ends after latest hamstring setback as Sydney prepares to face Collingwood

Josh Kennedy’s AFL career is officially over after another hamstring setback ended any hope of him playing if the Swans advanced to the grand final.

Josh Kennedy, right with (from left) Dane Rampe and Jarrad McVeigh, won’t play again after another hamstring setback. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Retiring Sydney champion Josh Kennedy’s unlikely bid to play again this year is over after another hamstring setback.

Kennedy announced in early August he would retire at season’s end but that he was holding out hope of being an on-field part of the Swans’ premiership bid.

Instead, the 34-year-old, who was limping at training on Thursday, will have to watch from the sidelines as Sydney tries against Collingwood at the SCG on Saturday to reach its first grand final in six seasons.

Kennedy injured his left hamstring in the VFL only days before his announcement, although he was already planning to call time on his career before that.

That hamstring issue was not considered as severe as the one he suffered in May on his right leg, which kept him out for eight weeks.

There won’t be a fairytale career ending for Josh Kennedy. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Kennedy sustained tendon damage in the first one, coinciding with his crude spoiling attempt on Carlton captain Patrick Cripps, which also cost him the only suspension in his brilliant 290-game career.

Swans coach John Longmire and Kennedy’s teammates have endlessly praised the triple All-Australian for his off-field role and attitude this year as he chased a fairytale ending.

Sydney beat the Magpies by 27 points a month ago but star midfielder Jordan De Goey didn’t play that day and he has been arguably the player of the finals series so far.

Both Longmire and veteran defender Dane Rampe deflected questions this week about whose job it would be to stop in-form De Goey.

“What’s been good about our midfield over the past couple of weeks is it’s been a genuine group approach,” Rampe said, echoing Longmire’s comments from days earlier.

Dane Rampe isn’t underestimating Collingwood despite the Swans beating the Pies a month ago. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We’ve seen ‘Millsy’ (Callum Mills) do jobs on people, ‘Rowy’ (James Rowbottom as well), and ‘Parksy’ (Luke Parker) last week on (Melbourne’s Jack) Viney.

“There’s no doubt that De Goey is in good form, but it’s not something that we’re overly concerned about. We’ve just got to respect him, which we will, and we’re coming out to compete.”

But Rampe said the fact De Goey didn’t play last time made Collingwood a greater threat this weekend.

“Just because we beat them last time; doesn’t give us the right to rock up here and think it’s going to happen again,” he said.

“We’re going to have to make the decision to come here and compete on Saturday afternoon and it’s anyone’s game at the moment.”

Dane Rampe believes superstar teammate Lance Franklin is primed for a big match in Saturday’s preliminary final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Lance Franklin has little to prove at this stage after kicking his 1000th goal this year, on top of winning premierships and individual accolades, but his scoreless qualifying final remains a talking point.

The superstar forward also postponed contract negotiations until the Swans’ season ends but Rampe expects him to bounce back in Saturday’s preliminary final.

“He didn’t have his greatest game, but he still had an impact on the game – I think everyone could see that,” Rampe said.

“Knowing ‘Bud and the competitor he is, you almost just don’t need to worry about him, because you know he’s priming himself for a big one.

“You can see that just in the way he’s walking around in the hallways – just a little bit more of a steely resolve – but that’s to be expected.

“That’s what we’ve come to admire about him and I’m looking forward to seeing what he dishes out on the weekend.”