Kennedy kicks 700 as the curtain looks to be drawing on storied career

Josh Kennedy passed another milestone in his storied career kicking his 700th goal in Eagles colours in what is expected to be his last season at the club. The 34-year-old reached his 700th career goal against Richmond in round seven but scored 11 of those in 22 games at Carlton over his first two seasons (2006-2007) before being traded to West Coast. He brought up 699 with a tight set shot from the boundary in the second term before snapping around the body later in the quarter only for it to be called touched upon review. He got his chance in the third after being set up early in the third 35 metres out and made no mistake, sparking applause from the crowd. West Coast great Peter Sumich has no doubt that Kennedy will be known as the greatest goal kicker at the club once he hangs up his boots. Sumich, who held the goals record at West Coast until 2018 when Kennedy booted his 515th major for the Eagles, said there would always be people that compared the pair, but that the 34-year-old had crafted his own legacy. “He goes down as the greatest goal kicker at West Coast, which is well-deserved,” Sumich said. “He’s played a long career and he’s been outstanding.” Across 17 seasons at the top level, Kennedy has now scored 711 goals at Carlton (11) and West Coast (700), claiming two Coleman Medals. With seven rounds left, Eagles coach Adam Simpson declared Kennedy had “a few games left in him, but not many” as the boy from Northampton maps out the home stretch of his career, including the finish line. The three-time All-Australian’s curtain call will likely be against Adelaide at Optus Stadium in round 21, with a final bow at a Dockers home derby the following week unlikely, as is a trip to Geelong for the final round. Sumich said Kennedy’s decision to retire would be a personal choice. “It’s really an individual thing, it’s like me, I was 29 when I finished in the AFL, Josh is 34,” Sumich said. “You make choices and you go with your gut feeling. He’s probably played more than what he thought.” “What he’s done for West Coast, he goes down as one of the all-time greats.”