Hawthorn Hawks 2019 Legends Guernsey
- Product Code: 20403322
Inspired from a guernsey worn by the club in 1933, this reproduction captures the essence and symbolic heritage of Hawthorn in this vintage guernsey that pays homage to our admission to the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1925.
The design is a modernised version of the predominantly gold with brown chevron and acknowledges the club logo used in this era on the rear.
The motif proudly worn on the left high chest has been re-digitised to honour the 'Legends' of the Hawthorn Football Club.
In 2019, we celebrate John Kennedy Snr who is honoured with his signature below the chevron in addition to statistical information and a digitised photo on the back neck collar of the guernsey summarising his irrepressible career accolades.
John 'Kanga' Kennedy played 164 games for the Hawthorn Football Club in 1950–59 (Captain 1955-59), including its first ever finals appearance in 1957 and was awarded club Best and Fairest awards four times (in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1954).
In 1960, aged just 31 Kennedy became coach and began transforming Hawthorn and led the club to its first three premierships in 1961, 1971 and 1976.
John was announced as AFL Hall of Fame Coach in 1996, named as Hawthorn's coach of the century in 2001 and elevated to a club legend in 2003.
Kennedy's team became known as 'Kennedy's Commandos'. Wearing his trademark overcoat, his booming voice and stirring words inspired generations of Hawthorn players, taking them from easy beats to the most respected and revered club in the League.
He epitomised and taught all the values and attitudes that the club cherishes and has been passed from generation to generation through the indoctrination of John Kennedy Snr.
These were overwhelmingly a sense of TEAM, DISCIPLINE, INTEGRITY and HUMILITY. These are now core values, part of the club's nucleus and as we compete in the 21st century, this legacy as defined by John Kennedy Snr will never be forgotten.