Carlton
After winning the 1985 premiership with Glenelg, Kernahan finally moved to Melbourne to join Carlton in 1986, the same year as two other quality South Australian players, Craig Bradley from Port Adelaide and Peter Motley from Sturt joined The Blues 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 the coaching of Robert Walls, Alex Jesaulenko and David Parkin. He captained Carlton in 226 league matches, making him the longest serving club captain in VFL/AFL history.
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 1983). He is a Carlton and AFL life member, and played a total of 403 senior games and kicked a total of 1133 goals 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 20 June 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. Kernahan will serve as president until October 2013 before stepping aside, as part of a succession plan announced after the 2012 season.
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