John Kennedy Sr. (footballer)

John Kennedy Sr. (born 22 July 1932, died 16 December 2020) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He is considered one of the greatest players and coaches in the history of the Hawthorn Football Club.

Kennedy played 164 games for Hawthorn from 1950 to 1959, captaining the club from 1955 to 1959. A strong and uncompromising ruckman, he won four Hawthorn best and fairest awards (1950, 1951, 1952, and 1954) and was named in the Hawthorn Team of the Century.

Following his playing career, Kennedy became a highly successful coach. He coached Hawthorn from 1960 to 1963 and again from 1967 to 1976, leading the club to its first three VFL premierships in 1961, 1971, and 1976. He also coached North Melbourne from 1985 to 1989.

Kennedy was known for his motivational speeches and demanding coaching style. His famous pre-game speech before the 1975 Grand Final against North Melbourne, in which he urged his players to "Don't think, do!", is legendary.

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 as a Legend and is a member of the AFL Team of the Century as a coach. He is also a Hawthorn legend. His son, John Kennedy Jr., and grandsons, Josh Kennedy and Ben Kennedy, also played VFL/AFL football.