Richards and Kennedy named All-Australian

The pair have been stand out contributors for the Swans this season, with Kennedy leading the competition in clearances and contested possessions, and Richards the key cog in the Swans’ staunch defence this season.

Richards’ stellar season has included a number of scalps against some of the competition’s leading forwards, including a dominant performance in the team’s recent Qualifying Final win over Adelaide a fortnight ago.

Traded to the Swans from Essendon at the end of 2005, this year’s honour is Richards’ first All-Australian selection.

Speaking to sydneyswans.com.au following his selection at centre-half-back, Richards said he was honoured to get the All-Australian nod.

“I’m just really excited,” Richards said.

“It’s a massive thrill to get picked in the squad at first and then to get picked in the final team is just a massive surprise and something I’m just incredibly proud of.”

With his typical ‘team-first’ attitude, Richards said while his selection was a great individual honour, his focus was on Friday night’s Preliminary Final against Collingwood.

“I think when the season finishes then I’ll be able to look back on something like this, but right now we’re four days away from the next main goal,” Richards said.

“It’s just a massive thrill and I’m really excited about it, but at the same time I know there are other things to look forward to.”

Kennedy, who arrived at the Swans at the end of 2009 from Hawthorn, topped the AFL in clearances for the second consecutive year, and has been a dominant force through the Sydney midfield in 2012.

The 24-year-old told sydneyswans.com.au he was thrilled to be awarded his first All Australian honour after being named on the team’s interchange.

“Obviously it’s very exciting and I’m very proud,” Kennedy said.

“I’m very thankful to the Sydney Swans and my coaching staff and my team mates for such a great year.”

Like Richards, Kennedy said he hadn’t had the chance to reflect on his season, due to the Swans still being well and truly alive in the finals race.

“Hopefully in a couple of weeks I’ll be able to reflect back on the season and assess how I’ve gone and where my improvement is going to come from, but hopefully that is still a couple of weeks away,” he said.

While both players were coy in assessing their own seasons, the Xavier College pair were happy to applaud each other’s selection in the All-Australian team.

“I’m also really thrilled for Josh,” Richards said.

“He’s been really consistent and has been getting tagged probably most weeks and just really fights hard every week and makes my job a lot easier down back when we’re winning the clearances.

“Also, on top of that he’s also really great coming back and has taken quite a lot of contested marks down in defence which I love, and I tell him about that a lot.”

Meanwhile, Kennedy had plenty of praise for the defender’s year with the Swans.

“Teddy has improved massively and the last two years he’s really been a rock for us down back and it’s just really good to know that when the ball is going in you can back him to win his one-on-one contests,” Kennedy said.

“He really supports the other defenders down there and really sets up a lot of our attack when you have that confidence in your defence.

“It’s been a great year for him and a great effort for him to be selected.”

Josh Kennedy, Sydney Swans. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2012. 267 kicks, 61 marks, 350 handballs (First in the AFL), averaging 12.1 kicks, 2.8 marks, 15.9 handballs. Seventh in the AFL in total disposals. 24 Goals, Nine Behinds. 164 Clearances (First in the AFL), 85 Inside 50m, 35 Rebound 50m. 109 Tackles.