Toast #17 Josh "JK" Kennedy (the better one)

[adagio]

JK enters 2011 as a key figure in the Eagles' attempts to rise from the ashes. One of only few positives to come out of 2010, Josh quickly stamped himself as one of the premium players at the club, kicking 41.19 for the year and pulling in 6 marks a game from centre-half forward. His profound presence on and off the field has been justly rewarded with promotion into the leadership group.

Already our best key forward in a decade, Josh is still only 23 and several years from his peak. 2011 looms as an exciting year as he continues his development into an A-grade power forward of the AFL

Career statistics:
http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-west-coast-eagles--joshua-kennedy

WCE player profile:
http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/p.../senior/season/2010/selected/bio/default.aspx

Video:
2008 West Coast debut - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyBMctBLqCs

In and Under with Daniel Kerr - http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/video/tabid/8660/contentid/258559/default.aspx

JK's "unique" yet effective run up - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3IDrKYLLbM

 

[sydney eagle]

If we are to improve our ladder position next year we need to both get the ball to Kennedy more often and have him kick more goals (at least fifty). A simple enough plan, but can the Eagles acheive it ?

 

[adagio]

I actually politely disagree - though 50 goals from JK obviously can't be a bad thing. The best teams continuously have an even spread of goal-kickers from all their forwards, as well as from midfield.

Just look at Collingwood's leading goalscorers for 2010:

Didak - 41
Cloke - 38
Dawes - 30
Davis - 27
Beams - 26
Sidebottom - 24
Jolly - 24
Brown - 21
Thomas - 18
Pendlebury - 17


JK will always be important because of the crucial role of a CHF in a team's structure and ball movement (and the fact that he's a quality player). What he needs though is more support - an over-reliance on him and LeCras makes us predictable and a lot less threatening.

Added improvement from Strijk and Hams, the emergence of Weedon/Neates/Darling and more goals kicked from our midfielders is really where most of the improvement needs to come from in 2011.

 

[jdisc]

yeah but then you touch on a huge problem of ours, midfield goals.

compare the amount swan/pendlebury/daisy scored compared to priddis/ebert/selwood

 

[adagio]

Yes exactly. That's why Shuey, Swift, Sheppard, Gaff and co will need to be capable of regularly kicking goals. I think it's for this reason Masten was played for so long at half-forward while he didn't have the fitness to spend full games in the middle. If he can be a regular goalkicker once he's fully matured he'll be at that next level as a midfielder.

 

[bluesinsider]

Josh is now part owner of Sleepys store in Osborne Park. Is known to work some Sundays and Thursday nights.

 

[bodazoka]

Is there anything he cant do!

 

[SwiftforPM]

Is there anything he cant do!

A normal run up to a set shot on goal!

 

[adagio]

I'm the first to admit I've been a lazy player sponsor this year, but I've simply got to give my boy a mention this week.

Congratulations JK: a career-best haul of 10.3 - just the fourth Eagle to ever reach double figures. 20 kicks, 1 handball, 15 marks (5 contested), 5 inside-50's and 4 tackles (and 177 Dream Team Points!!) in a herculean best-on-ground performance.

In a couple of years time, we may look back on this game as the one where Josh Kennedy announced himself as a superstar forward of the AFL.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Love you JK!

 

[DrTomSwift]

Why the **** did he handball it? Poor form JK!

 

[mitchzz]

3 goals off the top of the Colemen. Rewioldt and Buddy not playing this week either.

 

[Evelyn208]

He'll drop off as the year goes on. Think our form will slide a little, and sides are getting clued in to how to deal with our tall forwards. Plus JK is picking up the best defender now.

 

[BradWCE]

He'll drop off as the year goes on. Think our form will slide a little, and sides are getting clued in to how to deal with our tall forwards. Plus JK is picking up the best defender now.

I don't think he'll drop off this year unless he picks up some niggles like last year.

 

[SpaceClef]

Gun. So glad we finally have a gun key forward.

 

[CursoryMercenary]

What do you guys think? out of form? not getting delivery like he did earlier in the season? Certainly not making an impact as much as we would like.

 

[groga]

Injury/buggered.

The press is tacking it out of are players.

 

[Evelyn208]

Met most of the team either at training Friday or after the game Saturday (all but 3 in the squad that travelled over). Josh had to be the nicest and friendliest by a mile. Top bloke.

 

[WCEbrody]

And he's back

 

[kane249]

[youtube]eZJxPcR6E8o[/youtube]

 

[greennick]

Anyone know how much of the Sleepy's he owns? Just reading through some membership stuff they sent out and saw that he "owned" it. Apparently we get a discount there, haha.


Edit, googled a bit and found this released yesterday:

[youtube]BwoY2Msj3wg[/youtube]

lol

 

[Alwayshoping]

He is 50% share with Steve who runs the businesses for him.