The North Melbourne Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former coach, John Kennedy Snr. 

A three-time premiership coach at Hawthorn, Kennedy was lured out of retirement by North in 1985, and led the side for 113 games until 1989. 

“I had the great honour of playing under John early in my career. He was not only a coach to many of us, but a terrific mentor and teacher at Arden St,” North Chairman Ben Buckley said. 

“John always preached a team-first, club-first attitude and many of the values he established during his time at Arden St, we still hold dear as a club and as North people today.

“He also brought with him a tremendous amount of experiences and knowledge from his premiership wins, and played a big part in setting up the club for a successful charge through the 90s which yielded two more premierships for us in ’96 and ‘99.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, past and present, we pass on our deepest condolences to the Kennedy family.” 

Following success in the 70s which included two premierships in ‘75 and ‘77, North had a slow start to the 80s era. It prompted legendary administrator Ron Joseph to head-hunt the highly regarded Kennedy, who he believed was the ideal man for the Roos’ top job. 

Kennedy’s first game in charge of North was the first ever played on a Friday night at the MCG and throughout his tenure, he coached club champions such as Keith Greig, Wayne Schimmelbusch, Ross Glendinning, Jim Krakouer and Phil Krakouer. 

North reached the finals on two occasions under Kennedy in ’85 and ‘87, but his influence lasted well past his time at the helm. 

Teaming up with Greg Miller, Kennedy is famous for his hand in developing premiership players such as Wayne Carey, Glenn Archer, Anthony Stevens, Craig Sholl and Michael Martyn. 

Kennedy was also famously on the wrong end of North first VFL premiership, coaching Hawthorn in the 1975 Grand Final; the game in which his iconic, “Don’t think, do!” speech was belted out. 

He became the 29th Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame earlier this month.