Interview with Rick Kennedy

[The Coon Dog]

Loved watchin this bloke play. Tough as nails. He was a great skipper. And a great Gippsland boy!!!!

We sure had a few, including a couple of Brownlow Medalists.

[The Doctor]

I used to love it when he would do his nana at the umpire. Think he might of got reported for this in that amazing last game of the 1987 season v Melb.

Was my favorite player of the late 80's.

[LostDoggy]

god i miss the '80s

Dont we all.

[GVGjr]

I remember in his last season he was used a lot up forward and one time at the WO he was coming off the bench and Andy Goodwin was waiting to pick him up. Goodwin was no shrinking violet himself and big Rick promptly ran onto the ground and charged at him full tilt. Bloody solid shirt front.

[craigsahibee]

Rick used to give Jason Dunstall a good goin' over every time we played Hawthorn. I am sure that's why Dunstall still holds a grudge against us and never has anything positive to say about the Bulldogs. My youngest sister had Number 8 on the back of her duffle coat. Dad's favourite player at the time so I think he had something to do with that decision. Champion clubman and all round great guy. Thanks for the interview Coon Dog.

[Go_Dogs]

Never remember seeing Rick play, think he was just slightly before my time. Sounds like a bloke who could be handy in our current side.

Good job on the interview, enjoyable thread.

[LostDoggy]

Unfortunatley I never got to see Rick play, but I used to alwaays hear from my father what a great player he was. Great interview.

[Desipura]

Think Lockett in reverse playing full back, that is the best description I could give, if that makes any sense.
Always felt confident with Rick lining up at full back that he would at least break even with the best forwards.
Can vividly recall the knee to Dunstalls back after he had taken a diving mark on his stomach. "Gee, he made the opposition earn their kicks".
I would like to know whether he still has that lump the size of a golf ball on his thigh? And what was it?

[Mofra]

I remember in his last season he was used a lot up forward and one time at the WO he was coming off the bench and Andy Goodwin was waiting to pick him up. Goodwin was no shrinking violet himself and big Rick promptly ran onto the ground and charged at him full tilt. Bloody solid shirt front.

Ha, I remember that as a kid, the crowd kept yelling for Tits to get a go; think we weren't playing with much spark at the time so Rick took it upon himself to show the kids how things were done

Had number 8 on my jumper as a youngster, however as a toddler I got mixed up and used to call him "Rickedy Kennedy" (gimme a break, I was still learning to talk). I yelled it out at training once and everyone cracked up.

[The Coon Dog]

Should have mentioned at the outset, particularly for those relatively new to following the Bulldogs, but Rick Kennedy was the epitome of the old fashioned full back who took it as a personal insult if the full forward got a kick. Retribution was guaranteed, issued swiftly & extracted with mind numbing brutality. As someone said earlier, Dry Rot would have loved watching Rick play.

Off the field you would never meet a nicer bloke.

[Bulldog Revolution]

It sounds like Rick had some tough encounters with the Saints. That time Plugger decided enough was enough and was giving him a belting must have been scary.

Thats one of my earliest memories of attending footy at the Whitten Oval - I remember being I think in the dry zone at the Barkly St end and them going at it in the goal square and being just generally scared; for Kennedy and of Lockett.

[Rick Kennedy]

Hi Coon Dog,
A teammate by the name of Terry DeKoning gave it too me. There were a group of us that use to work out together and he believed that my chest was larger than my girlfriends, Janine whom I married. I am sure you can appreciate, it was probably a nickname that should of stayed on the football field.

[Rick Kennedy]

Thank you for asking Desipura.
Yes, the lump is still there. This is my understanding, please remember I am just an old full back.
There are 3 sheaths of muscle down the top part of your leg. I tore the large one down the front of my thigh late in a game against Essendon at Windy Hill. I attempted to train the following Thursday against doctors & physios suggestion and ended tearing the sheath severing it from where it joined at the top of my knee. The following week, we just bandage the thigh as tightly as we good, so that I could still run (in some sort of fashion, speed was never my strength) and what ended up happening was that the sheath started to roll up my leg. I probably should of had it operated on at the time, however we thought I could cope until the end of the season. When the end of the season come around, it was agreed not to operate, for there would only be a minor benefit, but could cause a whole range of other issues. In hindsight, that was probably not a good decision, for it affected what speed I did have and my kicking power. I hope that helps. Kind regards
Rick Kennedy

[Chops]

Hi Coon Dog,
A teammate by the name of Terry DeKoning gave it too me. There were a group of us that use to work out together and he believed that my chest was larger than my girlfriends, Janine whom I married. I am sure you can appreciate, it was probably a nickname that should of stayed on the football field.

Very funny but Jugs or Norgs would have been better!

[Desipura]

Thanks for the response Rick.
I actually shed a tear that night when Rick retired. Having a few too many drinks did not help.