Frank Kennedy | |
Fullname: | Francis Michael Kennedy |
Birth Date: | 31 July 1920 |
Birth Place: | Vervale, via Garfield, Victoria |
Death Place: | Garfield, Victoria |
Originalteam: | Garfield |
Height: | 183 cm |
Weight: | 82 kg |
Statsend: | 1947 |
Years1: | 1944–47 |
Games Goals1: | 36 (11) |
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]
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.
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]
He served in the Australian Army in World War II from July 1943 to February 1945.[9]
He died at Garfield, Victoria on 27 December 1990.