With plenty of discussion surrounding the dominance of the Daicos', the Ashcrofts and the De Konings in today's league, we thought it was time to take a look at some of the greatest football families in the history of our game.
Here are 10 of the best AFL football families that have graced the game...
Honourable Mentions: The Burgoynes, the Moores, the Ashcrofts, the Darcys, the Liberatores, the Tucks, the Whittens, the Barassis, the Scarletts, the Silvagnis, the Fletchers, the Hawkins', the Maddens, the Blakeys, the Clokes, the Hirds, the Roccas', the Picketts, the Hills, the Scotts, the Curnows and the Pickens'.
7. The Kennedys
The Kennedys are three generations of footballing royalty.
The late John Kennedy Sr is a legendary figure of Australian Football, making significant impacts as both a player and coach for the Hawthorn Football Club. As a player, he played 164 games, won four best and fairests (1950, 1951, 1952, 1954) and captained the club for five years. John Sr's biggest influence, however, undoubtedly came off-field, coaching 412 games and winning the brown and gold its first three premierships (1961, 1971, 1976) in club history. He has since been inducted into the Hawthorn and the Football Hall of Fame (at legend status) and in 2009 was awarded the Coaching Legend Award by the AFL Coaches Association. Perhaps his biggest honour, though, was being named as Hawthorn's coach in the club's team of the century.
Like his father before him, John Kennedy Jr is also a Hawthorn Hall of Fame inductee. John Jr arguably had a better playing career than his father, playing 241 games, kicking 211 goals and contributing to Hawthorn's most successful period in club history. The versatile big man played in seven consecutive grand finals and won four premierships during this time (1983, 1986, 1988, 1989) and had narrowly missed out on a fifth in 1991 despite still being listed. He was clearly a highly regarded piece in the Hawks' '80s dynasty, winning most improved player in 1984, most determined player in 1986 and best team player in 1987 and 1990.
Due to an unfortunate injury-plagued final season of his career, Josh Kennedy can consider himself unlucky not to be a member of the prestigious 300-game club. Sitting on 290 games, Josh managed to create a tremendous legacy away from his family's beloved Hawthorn, winning a premiership with Sydney in 2012 and being the Harbour City's seventh most capped player in history. The midfield bull is also a three-time All-Australian, three-time best and fairest winner and the winner of the Gary Ayers Award (best finals player) in 2016. Although he may not be talked about in the same high regard as other greats of the game, Josh is among the best players in recent history when it comes to congested situations. His elite work inside the contest is made evident by his 11th-placed ranking in the all-time tackle count (only eight tackles off seventh place) and his fifth-placed ranking in all-time handballs made. Across his stellar career, Josh averaged 25.4 disposals, 6.0 clearances and 5.1 tackles per game and elevated himself to an even more dominant level in finals, where he averaged an even more remarkable 29 disposals, 7 clearances and 5.5 tackles in his 22 finals appearances. 'Joey' can also be considered unlucky to miss out on receiving a Brownlow at some point during his illustrious career, with the Swans skipper having three top four finishes (2014, 2015, 2017) and an eighth-place finish (2012) to his name. The 36-year-old is an imminent inductee into the Sydney Swans Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of what his grandfather and father were for Hawthorn.
As players, the Kennedy bloodline combined for 695 games, 397 goals, five premierships, seven best and fairests and 10 years in captaincy.
Couldn’t manage to get the Silvagni name in there Dale?
Not a great effort Dale.
You include uncles and cousins – but ONLY if they have the same name. A few extra moment of research would have told you that the Ablett famil also includes Michael, Travis and Tuck.
While the Watson family includes Seb Ross.