Kennedy's father and grandfather, John jnr and John snr, were part of seven premierships with the Hawks during their playing and coaching careers. John snr coached Hawthorn to wins in 1961, 1971 and 1976; John jnr played in the 1983, 1986, 1988 and 1989 premierships.
Having already watched Josh lead the Swans to victory over Hawthorn in the 2012 decider, they are now preparing to watch him try to help deny the Hawks another flag on Saturday.
But the family has become adept at taking the situation in its stride, as is evident in a four-part series on the Kennedy clan produced by AFL Media filmmakers Peter Dickson and Shaun Vance.
"Josh made his decision and that was the right decision for him, and I thought Hawthorn did the right thing by him, particularly Alastair Clarkson," John Kennedy snr says in the first instalment documenting his grandson’s move from the Hawks to the Swans.
"I have no grizzles or growls (about it).
"Sentimentally, I'd like to see Josh running around in the Hawthorn guernsey, but there's no sentiment in League football."
Dickson, who also produced and directed The Chosen Few, a documentary on coaches, spent time with the family in John jnr’s Melbourne home for the shoot.
“I’ve known the Kennedys for a long time through my late brother Rob. They’re a great football family and I’m thankful they gave me their time and such wonderful access,” he said.
