Home > Kevin Sheedy

Sheedy, labelled the "back-pocket plumber" by his then coach Tom Hafey , was a tough, no nonsense player, who played 251 games for Richmond between 1967 and 1979. Sheedy won the Richmond best and fairest award in 1976, was captain of the side in 1978, and played in three premierships ( 1969, 1973 and 1974. He represented Victoria eight times in state of origin football.

However, Sheedy's greatest impact on the game has been during his time as coach of the Essendon side. Sheedy has held down the role continuously since 1981, during which time some other sides have had over a dozen different coaches. The Essendon side has won four premierships during Sheedy's time as coach ( 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000This page is about the year 2000. See 2000 AD for the UK comic book, Number 2000 for other uses. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar), and also the International Year for a Culture of Peace''. Events Y2K passes without the seri), as well as finishing runner up three more times ( 1983Events January January 1 Beat Raaflaub became Basel Boys Choir's new conductor January 1 the ARPANET officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet. January 1 compulsory wearing of seat belts becomes law in the UK. January 2 The mu, 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo and 20012001 is a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall ap).

As of the end of the 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U season, Sheedy had coached the club in 545 games, a record for Essendon, and the third most by any coach in the history of the game.

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 BarnesJohn Barnes is the name of more than one prominent individual: #For the science fiction author, see: John Barnes (author) #For the Liverpool FC footballer, see: John Barnes (football player) #For the Australian Rules Football player, see: John Barnes (Aus back to Essendon (a side that had traded him many years earlier) after he was let go by GeelongThe Geelong Football Club known as The Cats is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. They are based in the city of Geelong, a city of 190,000 people about 80 kilometres from Melbourne. They are the only current AFL t. Barnes proved to be a valuable player in the premiership side that year.

Sheedy is also noted for his quirky antics, outspoken nature and wry sense of humour. For example, before one game at Essendon's former home ground, Windy Hill, he tied the windsocks on the grandstands down 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.

His most memorable stunt came in 1993. In his excitment of winning a close game against the West Coast EaglesThe West Coast Eagles Football Club is an Australian Rules Football club that is a member of the Australian Football League. The club is based at Subiaco Oval in Perth, Western Australia and was formed when the AFL (then the Victorian Football League) dec, 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. When Sheedy passed out from heat stroke on a Western Australian beach in early 2004, West Coast supporters at the hospital waved their jackets at him all day while he recovered.

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 aboriginals to take up the game, and being a vocal supporter of anti-racial vilification laws in the game.

In 1969, Sheedy was drafted into the Australian Army and served for two years in a construction squadron. He was, however, not assigned to travel to Vietnam to fight in the Vietnam War.

Sheedy is married to Geraldine and has (?) adult children.