Stephen Kernahan is a former Australian rules footballer best known for his career with Carlton and Glenelg in the 1980s and 1990s.

Nicknamed Sticks and "Kernas", Kernahan was the captain of the Carlton team of the century and holds the club goalkicking record of 738 and the AFL record for the most games as club captain. Kernahan now serves as president of the Carlton Football Club.

[edit] History

Kernahan is the son of South Australian rules footballer Harry Kernahan. He began his senior career with Glenelg in the SANFL in 1981 and played 136 games, kicking 290 goals, winning 3 straight best and fairest awards, topping the votes in the 1983 Magarey Medal (for which he was ineligible due to a suspension), and twice winning the club goalkicking[1]. In 1985 he was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal as best on ground in the club's premiership win over North Adelaide.

Signed by Carlton in the Victorian Football League in 1981 he didn't move to the club until 1986, due to his slight build (hence the nickname "Sticks"). Kernahan arrived at Carlton in the same year as two other quality South Australian players, Craig Bradley and Peter Motley, and the three were immediately influential for the Blues. In only his second season at the club, Kernahan was made club captain and held the position until his retirement in 1997. He was premiership captain in 1987 and 1995, won the best and fairest in 1987, 1989 and 1992, under several different coaches.

Playing primarily at centre half-forward and later full forward, he was famous for his ability to kick the vital goal. He played thirteen games for South Australia and was selected as an All-Australian five times (four for Carlton in 1986, 1988, 1992, 1994, one for Glenelg in 1985). He is a Carlton and AFL life member, and played a total of 403 senior games for Glenelg, Carlton and South Australia.

After retiring as a player Kernahan joined the club's Board of Directors and in 2006 became a Vice-President of the Club. Following Graham Smorgon's failure to be re-elected at the 2007 Board Elections, Kernahan was made interim President, acquiring the services of and reliquishing the position to Richard Pratt within days. On June 20th 2008 he again took the role of President, this time permanently, after Pratt stood aside to fight charges of giving false and misleading evidence to an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.^[1]

In 2006, at the Carlton Football Club's Best and Fairest dinner, Kernahan unleashed comments regarding Jake Niall being Caroline Wilson's "lap dog" and said that journalist Patrick Smith "has no friends and spends Christmas Eve by himself". The comments caused major controversy.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Stephen Kernahan Profile in Blueseum
• SANFL Hall of Fame