Kevin Sheedy

Personal information
Birth	December 24, 1947 (1947-12-24) (age 59), Melbourne
Recruited from	Prahran (VFA)
Height and weight	180cm / 80.5kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 3, April 29th 1967, Richmond vs. Fitzroy, at MCG
Team(s)	Richmond (1967-1979) 251 games, 91 goals If you hold the copyright to an image (e. ... is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre. ... Prahran (pronounced puh-RAN), also known colloquially as Pran, is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... VFA may refer to: Victorian Football Association, an Australian rules football competition established in the 19th Century that was superseded as the elite competition by the 1897 establishment of the Victorian FootbalL League. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Fitzroy Football Club, most recently nicknamed The Lions, was an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League (now the Australian Football League) on its inception in 1897. ... “MCG” redirects here. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ...
Coaching career¹
Team(s)	Essendon (1981-2007) 635 games - 386 wins, 242 losses, 7 draws Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ...
¹ Statistics to end of 2007 season
Career highlights
Richmond Premiership Player 1969, 1973, 1974 Richmond Best & Fairest 1976 Richmond Captain 1978 Interstate Games:- 8 Richmond - Team of The Century Richmond - Hall of Fame - inducted 2002 Essendon Premiership coach 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000 Australia international rules football team coach 2005, 2006

For the footballer who played for Everton and Ireland, see Kevin Sheedy (footballer). Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... The Australia international rules football team is Australias senior representative team in international rules football, a hybrid of Australian rules football and Gaelic football. ... The 2005 International Rules series will be the 14th time that a test series of International rules football will be played between Ireland and Australia. ... The 2006 international rules series is the 15th time that a test series of international rules football has been played between Ireland and Australia. ... Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. ... For the Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond and currenly coaches Essendon, see Kevin Sheedy. ...

Kevin John Sheedy AM (born December 24, 1947) was the coach of AFL club Essendon, and a former player for Richmond. He holds the AFL record for the most games combined as a player and coach. ^[1] Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia. ... is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ...

Sheedy was the quintessential self-made player. Not blessed with great skills, he was able to carve out a brilliant career with dedication, perseverance and thoughtfulness. At his peak, he was a supreme big-game performer who epitomised the "kill or be killed" attitude of the Richmond club. He also attracted criticism for his theatrical attempts to win free kicks, his provocative gestures to opposition players and his occasional use of force. Later in his career, he realised an ambition he had held since his schooldays of becoming a full-time professional football player.

After his retirement, he commenced a coaching career with Essendon that has endured through several eras of the game. Sheedy is an innovator whose ideas shaped the modern style of Australian football coaching, taking it away from the "hot gospelling", hard training style and into the realms of a science. He has been at the forefront of many changes to the game in the last 25 years, and, despite his idiosyncratic speaking style is always sought for an opinion on any matter concerned with football.

On July 25, 2007, it was announced that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season, ending 27 years as Essendon senior coach.^[2] is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Early Days

Sheedy played junior football with the local Try Boys society team, where future teammate Kevin Bartlett also spent a brief time. In 1963, he joined VFA club Prahran, and spent a year with the thirds. The next year, at the tender age of 16, he played senior football with the Two Blues and was soon a regular with the team. His home was in Melbourne's zone, so he took up an invitation to try out with the Demons, playing a few practice matches. But Sheedy didn't feel comfortable there and returned to Prahran, playing in the club's premiership team in 1966. By now, Richmond had shown some interest in the young centreman and received permission from Melbourne to speak with him. Sheedy jumped at the chance to join the up and coming Tigers, but a problem emerged when he shifted to Punt Road. The VFA refused to endorse his clearance due to a disagreement with the VFL. If he moved to the VFL without the relevant clearance and failed as a player, Sheedy would earn a five year suspension from every other competition in Australia. It was a big risk for a young player and many people at Prahran weren't convinced he was ready for the VFL. Not for the last time in his life, Sheedy took the gamble. Prahran Football Club (Prahran Footy Club, PFC, also PAFC and PSFC) is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park at the corner of High Street and Orrong Road in Prahran, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

Another hurdle to jump was Billy Barrot. Barrot, a star player loved by the Tiger fans, played in Sheedy's favoured position of centre. Fortunately for Sheedy, Barrot was somewhat temperamental and prone to miss some matches. When he was injured in the third game of the year, Sheedy was selected in his place for his debut. But Sheedy struggled and after six games in the seniors found himself back in the reserves for the remainder of the year.^[3] His season was ended by a serious knee injury that further put his future into doubt. From the sidelines, he watched Richmond win the premiership against Geelong.

The Back Pocket Plumber

Returned to fitness, Sheedy faced an enormous challenge in 1968. Fortunately coach Tom Hafey saw something in Sheedy's willingness to listen, his determination and fierce desire for the ball. Placed in a back pocket, Sheedy firstly nailed a regular spot and then began to emerge as key player in the team's defence. He won a Victorian guernsey in 1969 and was a stand out in the Tigers' three finals games, which culminated in a second flag in three years. He finished runner-up best and fairest to claim a remarkable turn around in just two years.

By now, Sheedy's on-field persona marked him as a "villain" to be watched. He enjoyed niggling his opponents, physically and verbally and seemed to be at the centre of every melee on the ground. Occasionally, his teammates blanched at some of his more theatrical attempts to win free kicks or fifteen-metre penalties and he had the ability to drive opposing supporters into a frenzy. Since his injury, Sheedy had lived on the edge knowing that if he failed at Richmond it would be the end of the line because of the impending five-year suspension. But he seemed to have an innate ability to read how far he could push the envelope and indeed he was never reported during his career, a fact that would surprise most who saw him play.

He was now acknowledged the best in his position in the VFL and a key personality at Punt Road. A turning point came in the 1972 season, when Sheedy played in Richmond's losing Grand Final team. In an earlier final, Sheedy had ruffled Carlton's captain coach John Nicholls, suggesting that he was finished as a player and that Richmond had the wood on the Blues. Nicholls and his men, stung by media criticism and the attitude of the Richmond players, played a whirlwind first half in the Grand Final, booting eighteen goals to lead by 45 points. Sheedy, caught embarrassingly out of position a number of times, was switched to the unfamiliar position of ruck rover for the last half. Although the Tigers lost, Sheedy was a revelation in his new role.

Now permanently playing on the ball, he set up Richmond's Grand Final win in 1973 with three goals in the first quarter. In 1974, he was best afield in the Grand Final with 30 disposals highlighted by an uncanny piece of play in the second quarter. Sheedy marked next to the goalpost, went back to apparently take his kick from the impossible angle surrounded by opposition players, then casually ran in and handballed over the head of the man on the mark to lone teammate in the goalsquare who booted the easiest goal of his life. It was this mixture of flamboyance and cunning that attracted the media to him, and Sheedy was voted player of the year by journalists.

Sheedy made good copy; during the season Richmond had appointed him as full-time promotions officer, effectively making him the first professional footballer in the VFL. In time, all of the clubs would copy this appointment and by the 1980s, most clubs had a half dozen or so players employed as promotions officers. It was a bridge between the casual Saturday afternoon era and the age of true professionalism in the 1990s.

After finishing third in 1975, Richmond began a slide down the ladder. Sheedy's standard remained high - in 1976 he won the best and fairest for the only time and received life membership of the club. But he was shocked when his mentor and idol Tom Hafey left the club due to a lack of support at committee level. In 1978, he was made captain but his game was now struggling and he resigned after just one year. After just four games the following season, Sheedy read the writing on the wall when he was started all of the matches on the bench. He announced his retirement and immediately became an assistant to coach Tony Jewell. Throughout the 1980 season, it was clear he was preparing for a senior coaching role. He examined every facet of the club as the team went on to take the premiership.

Coaching career

Sheedy's greatest impact on the game has been during his time as coach of the Essendon Bombers. Sheedy has held down the role continuously between 1981 and 2007, during which time some other sides have had over a dozen different coaches. Essendon has won four premierships during Sheedy's time as coach in 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000, as well as finishing runner-up three more times in 1983, 1990 and 2001. Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

Until round 16, 2007, Sheedy had coached the club in 629 games, a record for Essendon, and the second most by any coach in the history of the game.[1] Coupled with the 251 games as a player, it is the most combined games as a player and coach in the history of the AFL, as some of Jock McHale's games were as a captain-coach. Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... James Jock McHale, (December 12, 1882 - 4 October 1953) was an Australian rules player and coach for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League. ...

He has never been a passive coach, and is well known for trying what commentators have often described as bizarre tactics. Sheedy has always believed in trying his players in as many different positions as possible, and also in giving discarded players from other clubs a second chance. These moves haven't always paid off, but sometimes they have been crucial. Sheedy made several moves in the last quarter of the 1984 grand final, when Essendon looked out of the game, and the side scored a come-from-behind victory. On the recruiting front, prior to the 2000 season, Sheedy lured ruckman John Barnes back to Essendon (a side that had traded him many years earlier) after he was let go by Geelong. Barnes proved to be a valuable player in the premiership side that year. John Barnes (born June 1, 1969) is a former Australian Rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League with a rich history. ...

On Round 9 of the 2006 AFL season, Sheedy coached his 600th VFL/AFL game. However, the milestone was not one to be remembered, as Essendon went down by 60 points to Port Adelaide (a fate that also befell Jock McHale, who lost his 600th game as coach of Collingwood). The loss marked a low point in Sheedy's career, with the Bombers missing the finals in 2006 and in finishing 15th, their lowest finish under Sheedy. Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006. ... James Jock McHale, (December 12, 1882 - 4 October 1953) was an Australian rules player and coach for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League. ...

Following the mid year departures of other AFL senior coaches Neale Daniher, Chris Connolly and Denis Pagan, speculation mounted that Essendon would move to remove Sheedy in order to hire one of these experienced coaches or alternatively compete with the other coachless clubs for the leading candidates.^[4] On July 25, 2007, it was announced that his contract would not be renewed in 2008. Sheedy coached out the season.^[5] Neale Daniher (born February 15, 1959 in Ungarie, New South Wales) is a former Australian rules football player and recent Melbourne coach. ... Chris Connolly (born 25 March 1963) is the former coach of Australian rules football Fremantle Football Club. ... Denis Pagan (born 24 September 1947) is an Australian rules football coach and former player. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Kevin Sheedy attended De La Salle College Malvern.

Public persona

Sheedy is also noted for his quirky antics, outspoken nature and wry sense of humour. For example, strong rumours suggest that before a game against West Coast Eagles at Essendon's former home ground, Windy Hill, he tied the windsock down on the School End outer terrace so the opposition would not know which way the wind was blowing. He is also fond of talking about how Martians cost his side the game in post-match press conferences, an oblique reference to the umpires, as AFL rules forbid coaches from criticising umpiring decisions. Such stories perpetuate the eccentric Sheedy myth and enigma to trial anything for success.

Another of his most memorable stunts came in 1993. In his excitement at winning a close match, with ruckman and forward Paul Salmon kicking a goal after the final siren against the West Coast Eagles, he waved his jacket in the air as he came rushing from the coaches box. To this day, the supporters of the winning club wave their jackets in the air after the game when the two teams play. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Paul Salmon (born January 20, 1965) is a former Australian rules footballer. ... West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League. ...

Another example of his ability to build up and promote matches was in 1998 when he labelled Kangaroos executives Greg Miller and Mark Dawson "marshmallows", referring to how soft they were. This caused a tension between the two camps and came back to bite Sheedy, with the Kangaroos defeating the Essendon Football Club in a finals match that season. After the match, Kangaroos supporters were provided with marshmallows, which they threw at Sheedy. Unfazed by this, Sheedy then promoted the rematch in 1999 as the "marshmallow" game. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. ... North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. ... Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. ...

Sheedy has long been an ambassador for the game throughout Australia, taking it upon himself to promote both the game in general and the Essendon club in particular. He has also done a great deal of work with Aboriginal communities in the northern parts of Australia, encouraging young Aboriginal people to take up the game, and being a vocal supporter of anti-racial vilification laws in the game. He has also encouraged foreign players to train with his side such as a former American footballer, a skilfully athletic Ethiopian immigrant and more recently two gallant Japanese try-outs. Languages Several hundred indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religions Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group names Indigenous... Racial vilification is the term in the legislation of Australia that refers to a public act that encourages or incites others to hate people because of their race, nationality, country of origin, colour or ethnic origin. ...

In the build up to the 2005 International Rules Series, as coach of the Australian side, Sheedy promoted the game by light-heartedly mentioning that supporters could attend the International rules game and be in for a high-scoring clash, or watch the Melbourne Victory game which was on at the same time, and see a scoreline of "0-0, or 1-0, or 1-1". International Rules Football match at the Telstra Dome - Australia vs Ireland. ... International rules is a rhetoric sentence used by the governments of United States and Great Britain when pointing at countries that they regard as rogue states because of their political inclinations or because they do not voluntarily align to Washington or Londons international policies. ... Melbourne Victory FC is a football (soccer) club based in Melbourne, Australia. ...

Sheedy has racked up numerous appearances on television and radio, including appearing on FOX FM's Friday morning football tipping with Tracy Bartram and Matt Tilley in 2003 and 2004. He is also currently the spokesman for Aquamax Australian water heating systems. Fox FM is a radio station broadcasting to Oxfordshire, United Kingdom on the frequencies 102. ... Tracy during a live jazz show Tracy Bartram (born 1959, London, UK) is an Australian comedian, radio personality and jazz singer. ... Matthew Matt Vernon Thompson Tilley[1] (born March 4, 1969)[2] is an Australian comedian who was born in Melbourne, Australia. ...

Sheedy is married to Geraldine, and they have four children.

Notes

1. ^ Essendon ends Sheedy reign
2. ^ Sheedy becomes next casualty
3. ^ AFL player statistics
4. ^ Timms, D;Sheedy's fate in 'three weeks'
5. ^ Kevin Sheedy sacked by Essendon Retrieved on July 25, 2007.

is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

References

• Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996

External links

• Essendon Football Club profile for Kevin Sheedy
• Official AFL website profile for Kevin Sheedy
• Richmond Football Club - Hall of Fame
• Kevin Sheedy profile on the Official AFL Website of the Richmond Football Club
• Kevin Sheedy - 25 years of coaching
• The end of an AFL icon

Kevin Morris is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1971 and 1976 for the Richmond Football Club and then from 1977 until 1981 for the Collingwood Football Club. ... Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... The Jack Dyer Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player(s) adjudged Best and Fairest for the Richmond Football Club for the season. ... For the Australian touring car racing driver, see Kevin Bartlett (race driver). ... Barry Davis (born September 15, 1943) is a former Australian rules footballer. ... The following is a list of coaches to have coached the Essendon Football Club, an Australian rules football club who have played in the VFL (from 1897-1989) and the AFL (1990-present). ... Matthew Knights (born 5 October 1970) is the coach of the Essendon Football Club and a former captain of the Richmond Football Club Knights wore the number 33 guernsey in 279 games between 1988-2002 for the Tigers whom he captained between 1997-2000. ...

Royce Desmond Hart (born February 10, 1948) was an Australian rules football player and coach who who played for Richmond in the Victorian Football League between 1967 and 1977, and coached Footscray (now Western Bulldogs) between 1980 and 1982. ... Neil Allen Balme (born January 15, 1952 in Perth, Western Australia) is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1969 and 1979 for the Richmond Football Club. ... For the Australian touring car racing driver, see Kevin Bartlett (race driver). ... Francis William Bourke (born April 2, 1947) was an Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1967 and 1981 for the Richmond Football Club and coached the Tigers between 1982 and 1983. ... Richard H. Dick Clay (born March 6, 1945) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL. Recruited from Kyabram, Victoria, Clay played as a full-forward and later as a defender. ... Michael Green is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1966 and 1971 and then again between 1973 and 1975 for the Richmond Football Club. ... Mervyn Keane is a former Australian Rules Football player who played in the VFL between 1972 and 1984 for the Richmond Football Club. ... Robert Robbie McGhie is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1969 and 1972 and again in 1979 for the Footscray Football Club, from 1973 to 1978 for the Richmond Football Club and in 1980 and 1981 for the South Melbourne Football Club. ... Kevin Morris is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1971 and 1976 for the Richmond Football Club and then from 1977 until 1981 for the Collingwood Football Club. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Paul Sproule is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club in the VFL from 1968 to 1971 and and then for the Richmond Football Club from 1972 to 1975. ... Wayne Walsh is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL in 1968, then between 1972 and 1975 and again from 1977 to 1978 for the Richmond Football Club and also between 1969 and 1971 for the South Melbourne Football Club. ... Bryan Wood is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1972 and 1982 for the Richmond Football Club and between 1983 and 1986 for the Essendon Football Club. ... Tom Hafey (born August 5, 1931) is a legendary Australian rules coach and player in the VFL/AFL. As a player, Hafey had a relatively quiet career as a tough back pocket, playing 67 games and kicking 10 goals between 1953 and 1958 for the Richmond Football Club. ...

James Albert Hird (born February 4, 1973) is a retired Australian rules footballer and former captain of the Essendon Football Club. ... Steven Alessio (born 8 November, 1971), is a former Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club. ... Paul Barnard (born February 13, 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer who played from 1994 until 2003. ... John Barnes (born June 1, 1969) is a former Australian Rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Darren Bewick (born 21 August 1967) was a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Blake Caracella (born March 15, 1977) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Dustin Fletcher (born May 7, 1975) is an Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club. ... Damien Patrick Hardwick (born August 18, 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer. ... Chris Heffernan (born January 29, 1979) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Jason Johnson (born January 25, 1978) is an Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club. ... Mark Johnson (born May 23, 1978) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Matthew James Lloyd (born April 16, 1978) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for and is captain of the Essendon Bombers Australian Football League. ... Michael Long (born October 1, 1969) in Darwin is a former Australian rules footballer and spokesperson against racism in sport. ... Scott Lucas (born 30 December 1977) is an Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League, and is noted as the other major forward for the Bombers, along with Matthew Lloyd. ... Mark Mercuri is a professional Australian rules football player for Essendon FC he played in the 1993 Grand final winning team which defeated Carlton. ... Smokin Joe Misiti was an Australian Rules Football player for the Essendon Bombers. ... Gary Moorcroft was an Australian Rules Football player for the Essendon Bombers and Melbourne Demons in the VFL/AFL. Best known for his Mark of the Year over Brad Johnson in Round 14, 2001, Moorcroft was a short (173cm), stocky and explosive goal sneak who participated in a premiership with... Adam Ramanauskas (born November 19, 1980) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Dean Solomon (born January 9, 1980) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Dean Wallis (born August 27, 1969) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Bombers. ... Sean Wellman (born September 20, 1974) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ...