Editor’s Desk: On verge of Josh Kennedy’s retirement, the case for him being Mid West’s best footballer

In just a matter of weeks, Josh Kennedy is likely to confirm footy’s worst kept secret: that he’s hanging up the boots and retiring at season’s end. And I’m not a betting person, but if I was, I reckon a fair chunk of West Coast fans will be saying goodbye to their favourite current player, and one of the very best of the Eagles era. JK is my fave of the current batch of Eagles. I’m not willing him to play on, even though at times this year he’s been among the Eagles best in a woeful season. At age 34, you can see the weariness and the body failing him. I wish Kennedy nothing but good things in retirement. He’s given his blood, sweat and tears to the club, in good times and bad, and deserves all the praise that comes his way. In this piece, I’d like to mount the case for Kennedy being the best footballer this region of WA has ever produced. Talking about achieving at the highest level, no other AFL player from the Mid West has kicked more goals than Kennedy (711 and counting, he’s currently 23rd on the all-time list, played more games (290 — such a shame he won’t make it to 300! It’s also worth mentioning that Paddy Ryder is close behind on 280 not out), had more All-Australian honours (three) nor won any Coleman medals, let alone the two that JK has hanging around his neck. Yes, Harry Taylor and Chris Mainwaring have won two premierships apiece compared to JK’s one. And Patrick Cripps still has plenty left in his career and could end his playing days well ahead of everyone else. But as it currently stands and weighing up all factors, JK is on top. Of course, I stand to be corrected if I am missing anyone from the annals of VFL history, but just to be safe let’s just put JK as our No.1 local product in the modern era. You would think the inevitable news will get announced before West Coast’s final home game for 2022 — against the Adelaide Crows at Optus on Sunday, August 7 — to give his adoring fans the chance to give the champion a proper farewell. It will be a sad day for Eagles fans to say goodbye to such a brilliant player and likeable character, but JK’s departure could also spell a make-or-break moment for the club in how it goes about replacing its ageing spearhead warrior. Can Oscar Allen and Jack Darling stand up in his absence? I wonder what is next for Kennedy? He has made regular trips back to his hometown of Northampton to help the community recover from cyclone Seroja, so wouldn’t it be fabulous if he returned home? Whether that will be the case or not remains to be seen, however I can see Kennedy remaining in the footballing world in some form, perhaps in coaching. I reckon he still has a lot to offer and has an astute footballing brain. The Eagles faithful have known the day has been coming for a while now, so it won’t come as a shock. But the boys in blue and gold just won’t be the same without JK streaming out on a lead, taking a pack mark, his stuttering run-up or kicking a mercurial goal from the boundary line.