Joshua Kennedy Ventures into Uncharted Territory
Two contact sports known for their physicality and speed—kabaddi and Australian rules football—stand worlds apart in culture and format. Kabaddi, rooted in India, unfolds on a small rectangular mat (13m x 10m), where players rely solely on their bodies to score points. Aussie rules football, deeply ingrained in Australia, plays out on sprawling green fields about 10 times larger, centered around a ball.
Bridging these contrasting worlds is Joshua Kennedy, a retired Australian Football League (AFL) legend, who has taken on the challenge of kabaddi. Set to lead the Australian kabaddi team against seasoned Indian players, Kennedy will debut in Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid, an exhibition event at the John Cain Arena on December 28.
From Footy to Kabaddi
A third-generation Aussie rules player, Kennedy had an illustrious career with the Sydney Swans. He led the club to an AFL Premiership in 2012 and was a three-time All-Australian team member (2012, 2014, 2016). His accolades also include three Bob Skilton Medals and other honors, amassing 290 games over 16 seasons before retiring in 2022 due to a hamstring injury.
Now, two years later, Kennedy is stepping onto a kabaddi mat for the first time. “It’s exciting, intense, and very physical,” Kennedy shared after attending Pro Kabaddi League matches in India. “I thought I had it figured out on the first night, but by the second, I realized there’s so much more to learn.”
Australia, despite its limited exposure to kabaddi, participated in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, with former AFL player Campbell Brown leading the team. Brown, now coaching Kennedy’s side, introduced the sport to him. “When I first saw kabaddi, I thought, why not? It’s nostalgic, reminding me of games like tag and British Bulldog,” Kennedy explained.
Adjusting to the Mat
Kennedy’s initiation included a kabaddi clinic with technical director E. Prasad Rao and a training session with the Jaipur Pink Panthers. “Being on the mat is intimidating,” Kennedy admitted. “The spatial awareness needed is new to me. Knowing the lines and staying within them will take work, but the physicality feels familiar.”
The Australian team, comprising recently retired AFL players, boasts over 2000 games of collective experience. Kennedy, yet to choose his position, is drawn to the role of an all-rounder. “Everyone will contribute in both raiding and defense,” he said.
A Sporting Spectacle
The Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid coincides with the Boxing Day Test in the Border-Gavaskar Series. Following the day’s cricket action, the event will feature an Australia vs. India kabaddi match and an All-Stars game between two PKL teams.
Kennedy hopes the event will expose kabaddi to Australian audiences beyond the Indian diaspora. “The entertainment element of Pro Kabaddi has immense potential here,” he noted.
As for his loyalty between cricket and Aussie rules? Kennedy smiled, “Cricket is big, but Aussie rules dominates conversations and friendships across Australia. My bias says footy takes the edge.”
Looking ahead, Kennedy dreams of bringing Aussie rules to India. “Sport connects people and cultures. Playing Aussie rules in India would be incredible,” he concluded.
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