by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
The football world and the Essendon players were in shock Wednesday morning when the news broke that Essendon Coach Kevin Sheedy would not retain his job after 2007. Sheedy, an avid fan of horse racing, was on his way to a race function, was summoned to a meeting with club Chairman Ray Horsburgh and Director Peter Jackson at a Melbourne hotel. The pair wasted little time in advising Sheedy that his contract would not be renewed. Sheedy, who previously stated he would like to continue as Essendon Coach, was not overly surprised at the decision. He and the board have been discussing his position since January. It brings to an end a 27 year reign, one of the longest in football history.
Over drinks, the trio discussed Kevin's future after the season ends. Jackson suggested Sheedy could work with the AFL. Sheedy has always been a great ambassador for the game and supporter of indigenous players. Surely, there would a role for him with the AFL expanding in southern Queensland and moving into South Africa. AFL officials have said there would always be a job for Sheedy within their ranks. Horsburgh and Jackson also asked Sheedy if he had any thoughts on who should replace him, but he refused to be drawn into such a discussion as he wants to concentrate on the remainder of the season.
A huge media throng turned up at the club for the midday press conference. Bomber supporters wearing black and red hung around outside the club. Passing supporters hurled abuse at the club for its decision. Several hundred greeted Sheedy with a standing ovation when he appeared at a training session.
According to Jackson, the decision to part company with Sheedy was a difficult one. There were several Board members in favor of renewing his contract but they went along with the majority. It was also revealed that a number of senior players believed a new leader with a new message was needed.
Sheedy handled the press conference in his usual way: pragmatic, dignified and humorous. He opened proceedings by asking if he was arriving at a funeral. He referred to Collingwood great Jock McHale and the great Norm Smith, both of whom passed away just two years after stepping down as coach at their respective clubs. Sheedy, who turns 60 next year, said he had every intention of hanging around a lot longer. Sheedy declared that perhaps it was time for club and coach "...to live without each other and see how we go..." Sheedy paid tribute to the club and the fans, saying it had been a great 27 years and that the supporters had been sensational. He quipped that it was appropriate that he and former skipper James Hird, who will retire at the end of the season, bow out together. Hird has known no other senior coach in his 15 year career. Sheedy described Adam Ramanauskas, who is playing senior football again after two bouts of cancer, as his greatest achievement.
Horsburgh, who sat alongside Sheedy at the press conference, said the time was right to make the announcement as there were three other clubs looking for new coaches and Essendon did not want to be left in the lurch. The club will begin its search for a new coach immediately. The Essendon hierarchy are certainly mindful that whoever replaces Sheedy will be asked to fill some very big shoes. He will need to be made of stern stuff, with the ability to handle the inevitable comparisons which will be made. Not to mention the usual pressures and scrutiny which are part and parcel of life as a senior coach. Director Peter Jackson did indicate that the next coach will not be given the control Sheedy had over the football department.
Sheedy indicated that he would like to coach again next year. When asked if he would like to take over at Richmond, he reminded reporters that Tiger Coach Terry Wallace still has two years on his contract. Richmond president Gary March said the club would be willing to hire Sheedy in an ambassadorial role. There is also a group of influential Richmond supporters who would look at persuading him to become an executive president.
Team captain Matthew Lloyd hopes the team can farewell Sheedy and James Hird in style. Hird spoke of his "shock and disappointment" that Sheedy's era was ending. In a television interview, Hird said, "It will be amazing to finish with a bloke who I came in with, and...without Kevin Sheedy my football career would not have gotten off the ground". He echoed Lloyd's sentiment that the players owed it to themselves and Sheedy that they finish off the season well.
Fittingly, Round 21 against Richmond will be his last appearance as Essendon coach in Melbourne unless the Bombers can reach the finals for the 21st time under Sheedy. Sheedy left Richmond to go to Essendon at the end of 1980. The Tigers wanted Sheedy to stay but could not offer him a senior coaching position because the club had just defeated Collingwood by a record margin to win the 1980 flag and it seemed inappropriate to fire premiership coach Tony Jewell.
For the record, Sheedy coached Essendon to four Premierships, took the club into four Grand Finals and has a winning percentage of over 60%. In his time with the Essendon, the team missed the Finals only six times. He not only took the club from one of its darkest periods but turned the club into a powerhouse and one of the biggest sporting clubs in Australia. However, his legacy transcends his coaching record. He pioneered not only the national competition but the cause of indigenous football and backed Michael Long in his stand against racism. His spontaneous jacket-wave when the Bombers defeated the Eagles in 1993 became a tradition among fans between the two clubs and crowds for Bomber-Eagle games increased by an average of 30,000. He turned Anzac Day into a huge football event with the annual Essendon-Collingwood game a massive holiday blockbuster. He is also the mastermind behind the now annual Dreamtime At The G game between Essendon and Richmond, which celebrates the contributions of Indigenous footballers and the Aboriginal culture. In the 1984 Grand Final, his tactics of re-positioning players was innovative and ahead of its time. His ploys saw the 15 meter penalty extended to 50 and his lobbying extended the interchange bench.
To give an idea of the scope of Sheedy's reign, here are a few poignant reminders:
Tim Watson, now in the media, was still a teenager when Sheedy took over at Essendon. Now Sheedy is coaching his former captain's son Jobe.
One of the Directors who voted to terminate him, David Evans, is the son of one of Sheedy's former club Presidents, the late AFL chairman Ron Evans.
The tributes for Sheedy came from everywhere:
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou paid tribute to Sheedy, saying he had been a great promoter and salesman of both Essendon and the game for years. He said Sheedy's four Premierships as a coach and three as a player placed him "among the pantheon of our game's highest achievers".
Former Bomber champion Michael Long said Sheedy was a wonderful advocate for the indigenous community and described Sheedy as "....a father of reconciliation..."
Federal Treasurer and Essendon's No.1 ticket-holder Peter Costello said Sheedy had been a "wonderful servant" of the club.
Former Carlton coach David Parkin said, "Of all the blokes I have locked horns with.......Kevin was the most difficult to coach against."
Kevin Sheedy's sense of humor is well-known. His brother Patrick, also showed a glimpse of the Sheedy humor when asked to comment on his famous sibling. Patrick said Kevin was "...an ordinary bloke who had achieved extraordinary things" The humor came out when Patrick was asked if he thought Kevin would return to Richmond. Pat responded by saying that Kevin ..."knows where the front door is and...knows where the back door is."
THE SHEEDY FILE
Born: December 24, 1947
April 29, 1967: debuts for Richmond against Fitzroy at the MCG
September 27, 1969: Wins first VFL Premiership as a player
September 29, 1973: Wins second Premiership, kicking three goals in first term of Grand Final
September 28, 1974: Wins third Premiership with Tigers, kicking two goals in the GF
1976: Wins Richmond's best and fairest award
1980: Retires as a player after 251 games and becomes an assistant coach at Richmond
March 28, 1981: Coaches first game at Essendon after replacing Barry Davis as coach. The Bombers lost to Geelong 10.17 (77) to 10.11 (71)
September 29, 1984: Coaches his first Premiership
September 28, 1985: Coaches his second Premiership
May 11, 1991: Club officials, at Sheedy's request, tie down the windsock for the club's game against West Coast to leave the Eagles clueless about the conditions at the ground
July 19, 1993: Starts "Jacket Waving" tradition between Essendon and West Coast after Paul Salmon kicks winning goal in two point win at MCG in round 16
September 18, 1993: One of his finest wins as coach when Essendon came from 42 points down at half time to beat Adelaide in the Preliminary Final. Spoke about the outnumbered Viet Cong during the Vietnam War in his half-time address
1998 - After referring to then-Kangaroo officials Greg Miller and Mark Dawson as "pink and blue marshmallows" earlier in the season, Sheedy was pelted with marshmellows after Kangaroos beat Essendon in that year's finals
September 25, 1993: Coaches his third Premiership
June 17, 2000: Sheedy makes a throat-slitting gesture to West Coast's Mitchell White at half time of a game at Telstra Dome, sparking an all-in brawl. The incident cost him a $7,500 fine.
September 2, 2000: Coaches his fourth Premiership, with the club winning first 20 games of the season, losing only to the Bulldogs in Round 21
July 22, 2001: Engineers a record comeback from 69 points down against the Kangaroos, who scored 12 goals in the opening term. Essendon kicked 10 in the second and won by 10 points
October 21, 2005: Coaches Australia's International Rules side for the first time
September 1, 2006: After losing the last game of the year, the Bombers finish 15th, their lowest ladder position under Sheedy
July 14, 2007: Breaks Jock McHale's record of most official games as a player and coach. His 629 games coached, ahead of Round 17, puts him second behind Collingwood's Jock McHale, who coached 714 games 1912-1949
July 25, 2007: Sacked as Essendon coach
Kevin Sheedy is still a regular at Richmond functions, and was named in the back pocket in the club's Team of the Century.
Source: Melbourne Age & Herald Sun
The football world and the Essendon players were in shock Wednesday morning when the news broke that Essendon Coach Kevin Sheedy would not retain his job after 2007. Sheedy, an avid fan of horse racing, was on his way to a race function, was summoned to a meeting with club Chairman Ray Horsburgh and Director Peter Jackson at a Melbourne hotel. The pair wasted little time in advising Sheedy that his contract would not be renewed. Sheedy, who previously stated he would like to continue as Essendon Coach, was not overly surprised at the decision. He and the board have been discussing his position since January. It brings to an end a 27 year reign, one of the longest in football history.
Over drinks, the trio discussed Kevin's future after the season ends. Jackson suggested Sheedy could work with the AFL. Sheedy has always been a great ambassador for the game and supporter of indigenous players. Surely, there would a role for him with the AFL expanding in southern Queensland and moving into South Africa. AFL officials have said there would always be a job for Sheedy within their ranks. Horsburgh and Jackson also asked Sheedy if he had any thoughts on who should replace him, but he refused to be drawn into such a discussion as he wants to concentrate on the remainder of the season.
A huge media throng turned up at the club for the midday press conference. Bomber supporters wearing black and red hung around outside the club. Passing supporters hurled abuse at the club for its decision. Several hundred greeted Sheedy with a standing ovation when he appeared at a training session.
According to Jackson, the decision to part company with Sheedy was a difficult one. There were several Board members in favor of renewing his contract but they went along with the majority. It was also revealed that a number of senior players believed a new leader with a new message was needed.
Sheedy handled the press conference in his usual way: pragmatic, dignified and humorous. He opened proceedings by asking if he was arriving at a funeral. He referred to Collingwood great Jock McHale and the great Norm Smith, both of whom passed away just two years after stepping down as coach at their respective clubs. Sheedy, who turns 60 next year, said he had every intention of hanging around a lot longer. Sheedy declared that perhaps it was time for club and coach "...to live without each other and see how we go..." Sheedy paid tribute to the club and the fans, saying it had been a great 27 years and that the supporters had been sensational. He quipped that it was appropriate that he and former skipper James Hird, who will retire at the end of the season, bow out together. Hird has known no other senior coach in his 15 year career. Sheedy described Adam Ramanauskas, who is playing senior football again after two bouts of cancer, as his greatest achievement.
Horsburgh, who sat alongside Sheedy at the press conference, said the time was right to make the announcement as there were three other clubs looking for new coaches and Essendon did not want to be left in the lurch. The club will begin its search for a new coach immediately. The Essendon hierarchy are certainly mindful that whoever replaces Sheedy will be asked to fill some very big shoes. He will need to be made of stern stuff, with the ability to handle the inevitable comparisons which will be made. Not to mention the usual pressures and scrutiny which are part and parcel of life as a senior coach. Director Peter Jackson did indicate that the next coach will not be given the control Sheedy had over the football department.
Sheedy indicated that he would like to coach again next year. When asked if he would like to take over at Richmond, he reminded reporters that Tiger Coach Terry Wallace still has two years on his contract. Richmond president Gary March said the club would be willing to hire Sheedy in an ambassadorial role. There is also a group of influential Richmond supporters who would look at persuading him to become an executive president.
Team captain Matthew Lloyd hopes the team can farewell Sheedy and James Hird in style. Hird spoke of his "shock and disappointment" that Sheedy's era was ending. In a television interview, Hird said, "It will be amazing to finish with a bloke who I came in with, and...without Kevin Sheedy my football career would not have gotten off the ground". He echoed Lloyd's sentiment that the players owed it to themselves and Sheedy that they finish off the season well.
Fittingly, Round 21 against Richmond will be his last appearance as Essendon coach in Melbourne unless the Bombers can reach the finals for the 21st time under Sheedy. Sheedy left Richmond to go to Essendon at the end of 1980. The Tigers wanted Sheedy to stay but could not offer him a senior coaching position because the club had just defeated Collingwood by a record margin to win the 1980 flag and it seemed inappropriate to fire premiership coach Tony Jewell.
For the record, Sheedy coached Essendon to four Premierships, took the club into four Grand Finals and has a winning percentage of over 60%. In his time with the Essendon, the team missed the Finals only six times. He not only took the club from one of its darkest periods but turned the club into a powerhouse and one of the biggest sporting clubs in Australia. However, his legacy transcends his coaching record. He pioneered not only the national competition but the cause of indigenous football and backed Michael Long in his stand against racism. His spontaneous jacket-wave when the Bombers defeated the Eagles in 1993 became a tradition among fans between the two clubs and crowds for Bomber-Eagle games increased by an average of 30,000. He turned Anzac Day into a huge football event with the annual Essendon-Collingwood game a massive holiday blockbuster. He is also the mastermind behind the now annual Dreamtime At The G game between Essendon and Richmond, which celebrates the contributions of Indigenous footballers and the Aboriginal culture. In the 1984 Grand Final, his tactics of re-positioning players was innovative and ahead of its time. His ploys saw the 15 meter penalty extended to 50 and his lobbying extended the interchange bench.
To give an idea of the scope of Sheedy's reign, here are a few poignant reminders:
Tim Watson, now in the media, was still a teenager when Sheedy took over at Essendon. Now Sheedy is coaching his former captain's son Jobe.
One of the Directors who voted to terminate him, David Evans, is the son of one of Sheedy's former club Presidents, the late AFL chairman Ron Evans.
The tributes for Sheedy came from everywhere:
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou paid tribute to Sheedy, saying he had been a great promoter and salesman of both Essendon and the game for years. He said Sheedy's four Premierships as a coach and three as a player placed him "among the pantheon of our game's highest achievers".
Former Bomber champion Michael Long said Sheedy was a wonderful advocate for the indigenous community and described Sheedy as "....a father of reconciliation..."
Federal Treasurer and Essendon's No.1 ticket-holder Peter Costello said Sheedy had been a "wonderful servant" of the club.
Former Carlton coach David Parkin said, "Of all the blokes I have locked horns with.......Kevin was the most difficult to coach against."
Kevin Sheedy's sense of humor is well-known. His brother Patrick, also showed a glimpse of the Sheedy humor when asked to comment on his famous sibling. Patrick said Kevin was "...an ordinary bloke who had achieved extraordinary things" The humor came out when Patrick was asked if he thought Kevin would return to Richmond. Pat responded by saying that Kevin ..."knows where the front door is and...knows where the back door is."
THE SHEEDY FILE
Born: December 24, 1947
April 29, 1967: debuts for Richmond against Fitzroy at the MCG
September 27, 1969: Wins first VFL Premiership as a player
September 29, 1973: Wins second Premiership, kicking three goals in first term of Grand Final
September 28, 1974: Wins third Premiership with Tigers, kicking two goals in the GF
1976: Wins Richmond's best and fairest award
1980: Retires as a player after 251 games and becomes an assistant coach at Richmond
March 28, 1981: Coaches first game at Essendon after replacing Barry Davis as coach. The Bombers lost to Geelong 10.17 (77) to 10.11 (71)
September 29, 1984: Coaches his first Premiership
September 28, 1985: Coaches his second Premiership
May 11, 1991: Club officials, at Sheedy's request, tie down the windsock for the club's game against West Coast to leave the Eagles clueless about the conditions at the ground
July 19, 1993: Starts "Jacket Waving" tradition between Essendon and West Coast after Paul Salmon kicks winning goal in two point win at MCG in round 16
September 18, 1993: One of his finest wins as coach when Essendon came from 42 points down at half time to beat Adelaide in the Preliminary Final. Spoke about the outnumbered Viet Cong during the Vietnam War in his half-time address
1998 - After referring to then-Kangaroo officials Greg Miller and Mark Dawson as "pink and blue marshmallows" earlier in the season, Sheedy was pelted with marshmellows after Kangaroos beat Essendon in that year's finals
September 25, 1993: Coaches his third Premiership
June 17, 2000: Sheedy makes a throat-slitting gesture to West Coast's Mitchell White at half time of a game at Telstra Dome, sparking an all-in brawl. The incident cost him a $7,500 fine.
September 2, 2000: Coaches his fourth Premiership, with the club winning first 20 games of the season, losing only to the Bulldogs in Round 21
July 22, 2001: Engineers a record comeback from 69 points down against the Kangaroos, who scored 12 goals in the opening term. Essendon kicked 10 in the second and won by 10 points
October 21, 2005: Coaches Australia's International Rules side for the first time
September 1, 2006: After losing the last game of the year, the Bombers finish 15th, their lowest ladder position under Sheedy
July 14, 2007: Breaks Jock McHale's record of most official games as a player and coach. His 629 games coached, ahead of Round 17, puts him second behind Collingwood's Jock McHale, who coached 714 games 1912-1949
July 25, 2007: Sacked as Essendon coach
Kevin Sheedy is still a regular at Richmond functions, and was named in the back pocket in the club's Team of the Century.
Source: Melbourne Age & Herald Sun
Article last changed on Friday, July 27, 2007 - 2:00 AM EDT
