Former Hawthorn coach John Kennedy will tower over the club's future training sessions after a three-metre high statue was unveiled overlooking the oval at their Waverley Park headquarters.

Kennedy was a four-time best and fairest winner in his 164 games with the club.

But he is best known for coaching the club to three premierships, including the Hawks' first in 1961 and was later named coach of the club's team of the century.

His teams became known as Kennedy's Commandoes because of their hard-nosed approach to the game, inspired by his booming voice and stirring speeches.

"The statue highlights the high regard in which John Kennedy is held by the large Hawthorn family, and the placement of the statue, overlooking our training oval, will be a true inspiration for current and future players as they pursue our premiership dreams," Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said.

The bronze statue was donated by club director Geoff Harris and his wife Sue and was sculpted by artist Louis Laumen.

Laumen's previous work includes statues of Leigh Matthews, Betty Cuthbert, Sir Donald Bradman and Ron Barassi that adorn the MCG concourse.

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