For John Kennedy Snr: 'For being reminded of Kennedy is being reminded also of what Hawthorn is all about', by David Parkin - 2020

2 July 2020, Our Lady of Victories, Camberwell, Melbourne, Australia

David Parkin’s was captain of Hawthorn’s 1971 premiership side under Kennedy. Speech begins at 38.20.


Whilst the past nine days has been a time of great sadness and reflection, today I hope can be remembered as a genuine celebration of a remarkable and, in many ways, unique man’s life.

My association with ‘Kanga’ goes back nearly six decades. I have known him as a coach, father, husband, colleague, critical friend and educationalist. Like hundreds of others, with their parents being the exception, he became the most significant and positive person in their lives. The many conversations I’ve had this past week, would certainly reinforce that.

Two people I know well have sought some solace in John’s passing by visiting Waverley Park to stand in front of his imposing statue, to pay homage and reflect on his legacy.

In many ways, it’s not difficult to understand why this man was held in such high esteem. No, it’s more than that – reverence! This reverence came about not because of his many achievements, numerous as they have been, but because of the respect for the qualities of the man himself. Many, including me, have spoken this week about those attributes, but they bear repeating:

1. His complete objectivity in decision making!
I’ve met no other man in life who could make decisions without fear or favour. What was best for the team or club always prevailed. Personal feelings or relationships never influenced his decision. For example, the sacking of Lance Morton in 1970 mid-season and Kevin Heath in 1975 pre-season; his non-selection of Peter Crimmins in the 1975 Grand Final; his departure to Stawell in 1964; his appointment to North Melbourne in 1985. All are actions of a decisive decision maker. We admired him enormously for that!

2. His absolute single-mindedness
Nothing superficial or extraneous ever interfered with the achievement of the objective. His ability to pass through the pain barrier was a great example for us to follow.

In a pre-season run, using the ‘Walk Against Want’ as his vehicle (25 kms from Glenferrie Oval to Eastland in Ringwood) and John, now in his forties, caught up to Des Meagher, the best endurance runner in the Club, at Antonio Park and suggested a walk. Des said yes, then took off with Kanga in hot pursuit. He was eventually beaten into second place by Des, who took a shortcut. John never forgave him!

3. His exceptional oratory
The players were given plenty in his pre, during and post-match addresses. His “at least DO something? DO, don’t think, don’t hope, DO! has become part of football folklore. But I was always in the front row! He used his knowledge of literature as an exceptional skill, to provide the connection between football and life, using the philosophy of Karl Marx, the beauty of William Shakespeare and the passion of Sir Winston Churchill.

4. His tremendous sense of humour
Whilst his leadership style would have to be termed ‘autocratic’, there are multitude examples of this over the 60-70 years, but I will mention two:

i) On the back of a 103 point turnaround versus Essendon in 1973, (Round 3 to Round 15) there was no post-match team meeting, although I could see that John was seething. The following Tuesday night we copped 30 minutes of his best condemnation for our lack of effort. His closing words I will never forget. “The trouble with this generation is that you have dollars on your backs, fast cars in the carpark, and Brut under your armpits!” He then stormed off to have a shower. No-one followed. He reappeared and then we showered too. As Ian Bremner came out of the bathroom he hesitated near Kanga’s locker and said to Kel Moore “Can you throw me over your Brut mate?” to which Kel replied “Hang on a minute Brem, it’s out in my new Monaro in the carpark”. Even the coach, himself, had to smile.

ii) To put this into context, some years back Ray Wilson rang me to ask whether as a player I had ever had John put his arm around me and say “well done”. I assured him that never happened! “That’s good” said Ray, “I thought I was the only one to miss out”.

On the basis that JK was not one for handing our bouquets to anyone, Don Scott was pleasantly surprised to receive a phone call from Kanga on Grand Final day a few years back. He was ringing to tell Scotty how well he had played in the 1971 Grand Final – some 27 years before! Apparently he couldn’t sleep on Grand Final eve, had turned on the TV to see Channel 7’s Grand Final marathon. Lo and behold, it was the replay of 1971, which apparently he had never watched.

Early the next morning Scotty received the phone call from John reinforcing how well he had played. He was dumbfounded but really excited and rang his three friends to tell them his news. I congratulated him on being the first and only player to receive that reinforcement from our coach.

Immediately I rang Kanga to make sure he understood the significance of his phone call, and asked him if he had my telephone number to give me a similar call? “Sorry Dave”, he said “but you didn’t play all that well, so I won’t be making that call”!

5. His complete and utter humility
John was always embarrassed by the accolades from others. Hawthorn or North Melbourne successes, to him, were due to the outward and visible signs, which were the players. Never was the team’s successes due to his words or deeds, and I mean NEVER!

6. Personal influence
His ability to influence the character and lives of so many young men, gave players purpose and meaning to what they were doing. There is no doubt, for this reason alone, that all who donned the Brown and Gold or Blue and White over those 18 seasons, have become better people as a result of being coached by JK.

In catching up with teammates at Club and AFL functions over the years, I have had that reinforced time and again.

Back in 1977 Hawthorn ran a testimonial dinner for John. In typical Kennedy style, he spoke at length about the people and events which had impacted his life, whilst serving that entity over the previous three decades.

I will repeat my public response then as a reminder to us all, for the years ahead.

I sincerely hope that John Kennedy is never forgotten by players, coaches, administrators and members at Hawthorn, for being reminded of Kennedy is being reminded also of what Hawthorn is all about.

Rest in peace great man!

John Kennedy 20 December 1928 – 24 June 2020

For Allan Jeans: 'His scallywags, he would call us', by John Kennedy Jnr - 2011

20 July 2011, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jolimont, Melbourne, Australia

In the pre-season of 1981, the President Ron Cook, John Kennedy Snr & the committee made the decision to appoint Allan Jeans as the senior coach of the Hawthorn Football Club. .

No-one could have imagined the profound affect that decision was to have on the club and in particular those that worked within it.

Our perception and that of the football public was built on a media profile that had preceded Yab’s appointment at Hawthorn. A man who was very conservative, dour in his demeanor and one who gave the impression he loved sucking lemons for fun!

It wasn’t until you got to really know this man that the real Yabby Jeans was discovered.

Our first meeting as a playing group was in the Hawthorn Social Club. It wasn’t a long extended meeting on what lay ahead over the summer or any issue surrounding our poor performance of the previous season, but rather a short, to the point, quietly spoken message, that we as players did not have to like Allan Jeans but (with a crescendo in his voice) – “You must respect the position I hold at this football club! I will need to earn your respect & you mine, but I demand you respect this position I hold as coach!”

It set the tone for what was to be the most successful era the Hawthorn Football Club had experienced.

Yab’s wisdom and knowledge was profound. He extended this talent to his players on many occasions, usually accompanied by a real life analogy.

He would stress continually that in football and life you cannot have freedom without responsibility. That the freedom to say and do things must be accompanied with a responsibility in what you say and do. “You cannot have one without the other!” he would roar

When we found ourselves languishing out of form ,or having to make a decision on our football or even a personal matter , he would often quote the little boy who comes to a crossroad and doesn’t know where to go as the sign post had fallen over . A man nearby sees the confused boy and asks him what’s the problem. The boy replies, “I have come to the crossroad and the sign is broken. What will I do?” The old man says, “that’s easy son, pick up the sign post, point the sign to where you have come from and then you will know where you are going.”

Or

If you see a man at the top of the mountain you have to remember he wasn’t bloody put there. He had to work to get there!!

and

Of course his famous 1989 half time address of the mother who needed to pay the price for her son’s new shoes if she wanted them to last. She had to pay the price!

Then there was his renowned sense of humour.

This was no more evident than his explanation to us at a meeting one night as to the appointment of his great friend George Stone as runner.

“Well it’s like this – Napoleon during his times of war needed a messenger to get information to the troops. He decided to select the dumbest individual in his army because he believed if he could get the message through to him then it was more likely the message would get to the troops correctly. I have chosen George as our runner.”

In discussions with my father he recalls coming back from Geelong one day with Yab after being beaten by Tommy Hafey’s Cats. A long trip back with plenty of time to think. Yab walked in the front door of his house to Mary lightheartedly calling out from another room – “How did you go Allan – Tommy put it over you did he?” “Now Mary, I’m going back out that door and come back in and we are not going to talk football!!”

Prior to a game at Waverley Park in the mid-eighties he was wandering through the rooms with football manager Johnny Hook as we were all being rubbed down by the trainers. These trainers, the likes of Bob Yeoman, Max Deacon, Peter the Pear (to name a few) were all large men dressed in white pants half way down their backside , white singlets smudged with liniment and all bearing ample stomachs. They also doubled up as water boys. With the ever increasing speed at which the modern game was being played it became apparent to Yab that things would need to change. “Hooky, have a look at these water boys, they will need to be camels to do this job.”

We were playing Richmond at the MCG. The Tigers were causing us all sorts of trouble as the siren went for quarter time. As we huddled around Yab for his quarter time address, he swung into action roaring at us, in an attempt to snap us out of our lull. He suddenly turned his attention to Russell Morris, nicknamed FLY. And said “Fly – you are playing on a guy that has taken 15 marks in his entire career and half of those he has just taken on you in that quarter – LIFT-SON!!!’

There are so many stories .We all have one.

Yab loved his players. His scallywags he would call us.

In public he would defend us to the hilt, even after our worst performances he would never criticize us individually. Under enormous scrutiny from the press he would only say how well the opposition played and that they won in most positions and made the least number of mistakes. We as players appreciated and respected him for his stance on this, however, behind closed doors it was often a different story!

He would let us know in no uncertain terms with his booming voice what he thought of our performance. His piercing blue eyes would scan the room and phases such as “Blokes on ego trips and lairizing” “You know who you are” … “If the cap fits, wear it”… and “Don’t worry about me, I go out there and defend ya to the press, I’ll make something up for you! You just make sure you have fun tonight!!! Don’t let that performance get in the way of ya dancing- oh no we can’t have that. Hope ya beer tastes sour… Off you go!!!”

As a coach he once again displayed two faces. One publicly that presented a very old fashioned way of doing things but in private he was an innovator. He pioneered what’s now called ‘the running game’. He broke the game down for us in simple terms. “We have it, they have it or it’s in dispute.” We were drilled in what to do in all three areas. Our training was geared towards achieving the best results in all three areas. He did not adhere to the theory of long training sessions. He was a great believer in keeping us at the club for as little time as was necessary to ensure we didn’t become too bored in our surroundings.

As players we enjoyed the success that blended through the years.

He had an extraordinary ability to manage people, in particular his players.

In fact it was his greatest asset. Always fairly and thoughtfully.

I remember entering the club room doors and running into a player who Yab had just told that his services were no longer required. He went on to tell me that he was very disappointed but understood that Yabby had to make the hard decisions and that – wait for it - he felt sorry for Yab!!! I marveled as to how he was able to have this individual think this way

I stand here today to represent all the many people who have had an association with Yabby during his time at Hawthorn. In particular the players and match committee who were lucky enough to share in an amazing period of success.

This success in football terms is well documented.

What perhaps is less tangible, but in many ways the greatest legacy Yabby leaves us, is the undoubted impact he has had on our day to day lives.

The lessons he taught us to be successful on and off the field have been used by each and every one of us at various times since we left behind those halcyon days at Hawthorn.

The benefits of persistence, a sense of responsibility, commitment to family, how to win with humility, how to lose with dignity, without excuses. How to manage people and how to lead, to name just a few.

Yab always used to say that myths and images are built up about people, that some people and some things are not always what they seem.

There was no myth about Yab

Certainly an image had been created of him publicly but for those of us that were lucky enough to have known him well, he was the real deal.

A man of great character, integrity and honesty.

A man who did things the way he wanted.

He was not influenced by stereotypes that were often portrayed in the media.

He did not fall into that trap, but dealt with us all…players, club and media…in his own way.

I suspect that as time passes and AFL football and the Hawthorn Football Club continues to evolve, my generation will be talking of this man in similar tones to how my father’s generation talk of the great Norm Smith – in revered terms – arguably this is already occurring.

It’s difficult to put into words the varying degrees of influence that Yab had on our lives.

But in reflecting over the years, it would be fair to say, that for most of my teammates and I, he, outside of our parents had the biggest influence on the way we operate today

Men such as Allan Jeans are a rarity and we will be forever grateful that we were in the right place at the right time to enjoy one of the greatest characters that we will ever meet. He leaves us all with wonderful memories and achievements.

On behalf of all us Scallywags Yab –

Our Sincerest thanks and goodbye, our leader and Friend.