CHANGING clubs is a daunting prospect for any footballer, but it’s even harder when you are a member of one of football’s most famous families.

When Josh Kennedy was drafted by Hawthorn in 2006 under the father-son rule, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, legendary coach John Kennedy, and father John Kennedy Jr.

With seven premierships, four best and fairests and 410 games between them, the elder Kennedys were an integral part of the club’s golden era in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

If football was a fairytale, the youngest Kennedy would have slotted straight into the side and built on the legacy of his forebears.

But the best-laid plans can – and did – go awry.

After 13 games in three seasons with the Hawks, the 21-year-old opted for a fresh start with the Sydney Swans after being offered a three-year contract by coach Paul Roos.

“I suppose when you sit down and think about how your life’s going to pan out, you don’t expect it to go like this – or I didn’t, anyway,” Kennedy said.

“It was a really tough decision. I made sure that I took the time and spoke to the right people – family, friends, all the people at Hawthorn including Alastair Clarkson and everyone else involved, just to see where they thought I sat and what was the best path for me in terms of opportunity and being able to play senior football.

“At the end of the day, the decision was made for me.”

Kennedy said Roos’ enthusiasm for his robust style of play had been a key factor in his decision to move north.

“He just basically said that I fitted the mould of Sydney’s game style and they’d been watching me for most of the year, whether that be in the seniors or at Box Hill,” he said.

“He was pretty confident that, given a bit of hard work, I’d be able to make a real impression and that was supported by the three-year deal that was offered.”

Kennedy has his eye on a place in the Swans’ midfield rotation, but said he could end up playing roles off half-forward or half-back as he adapted to his new club’s strategy.

The prospect of developing his game with some of the league’s finest inside midfielders was another enticing prospect, he added.

“I can’t wait to get up there. I think it will suit me and I’m just really looking forward to learning from players like Brett Kirk and Jude Bolton, because I’ve definitely learnt plenty from the likes of Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Luke Hodge at Hawthorn. Any way that I can expand my knowledge is very exciting.”

Despite his new allegiance to the Bloods, Kennedy said he would always have a soft spot for the Hawks.

“There’s certainly no animosity or bad blood between us. I’m very happy with the way they went about it and the support they gave to me, and I hope they’re happy with the way I went about it,” he said.

“I’ll certainly stay in contact with most of the boys at Hawthorn.”