Frank Kennedy

For the golfer, see Frank Kennedy (golfer).

Frank Kennedy
Personal information
Full name	Francis Michael Kennedy
Date of birth	(1920-07-31)31 July 1920
Place of birth	Vervale, via Garfield, Victoria
Date of death	27 December 1990(1990-12-27) (aged 70)
Place of death	Garfield, Victoria
Original team(s)	Garfield
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1944–47	Melbourne	36 (11)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1947.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Francis Michael Kennedy (31 July 1920 – 27 December 1990) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Family

The son of Michael Francis Kennedy (1890-1971), and Ann Maree Kennedy (1892-1977), née Maher, Francis Michael Kennedy was born at Vervale, Victoria on 31 July 1920.

He married Agnes May Stout (1920-1989) in 1946.

Football

Kennedy's first contact with the Melbourne Football Club was on 2 April 1940, 1940, when -- described as a "new man" from "Vervale, Gippsland"[2] -- he took part in the team's training.

In 1944, he was listed as a "new" player -- from the Melbourne Seconds -- in Melbourne's final training list for the 1944 season,[3] and made his debut for Melbourne's First XVIII against Richmond, at Punt Road, on 6 May 1944,[4] and was considered to be Melbourne's best player (in a losing team).[5]

"Frank Kennedy, from Garfield, was not so conspicuous against Essendon [in round 3, on 4 May 1946], but was one of Melbourne's best the previous week [viz., round 2, on 27 April 1946, his first senior match in the 1946 season] at Carlton.
Playing on a half-forward flank, his leading-out, and general approach to the ball, were features. His present form should keep him in the side." -- "Clubman", 8 May 1946.[6]

Kennedy was a reserve in Melbourne's losing 1946 VFL Grand Final team. He came onto the field in the final quarter, and was reported for striking and suspended for four matches.[7][8]

Military service

He served in the Australian Army in World War II from July 1943 to February 1945.[9]

Death

He died at Garfield, Victoria on 27 December 1990.

Notes

1. Holmesby & Main (2009), p.445.
2. Regulars Return to Melbourne, The Argus, (Wednesday, 3 April 1940), p.17.
3. Melbourne's Final List, The Argus, (Wednesday, 3 May 1944), p.11.
4. v. Richmond, The Age, (Friday, 5 May 1944), p.4.
5. Richmond's System, The Age, (Monday, 8 May 1944), p.4.
6. The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 8 May 1946), p.32.
7. Percy Bentley (7 October 1946). "Essendon take honours in VFL". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 13.
8. "Grand final incident: Kennedy out for four weeks". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. 11 October 1946. p. 7.
9. Taylor, Percy, "Melbourne are Proud of their Great War Record", The Australasian, (Saturday, 24 June 1944), p.23.

References

• Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2009). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (8th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921496-00-4.
• World War Two Nominal Roll: Private Francis Michael Kennedy (VX137119), Department of Veterans' Affairs.
• B883, VX137119: World War Two Service Record: Private Francis Michael Kennedy (VX137119), National Archives of Australia.

External links

• Frank Kennedy's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Frank Kennedy at AustralianFootball.com
• Frank Kennedy, at Demonwiki.