vast
Hall of Famer
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19323997%255E20322,00.html
Sheedy is still the one, says Hird
01 June 2006 Herald Sun
Mark Robinson
JAMES Hird has thrown his considerable support behind long-time coach Kevin Sheedy, saying Essendon should re-sign him for 2008 and beyond.
The Bombers champ, 33, also gave the strongest hint he'll play next season -- if his body holds up.
"Yes (I'll play on) if I have an injury-free rest of the year," Hird said.
"Sheeds has spoken briefly to me and told me he would like me to keep playing.
"If we had a good year this year I would've called it quits and it still might happen, but the want for me to play is as strong as ever.
"At times like this you need all hands on deck, not blokes jumping off and saying it's too hard."
While welcome news for the beleaguered club, it's Hird's unequivocal support for Sheedy that will interest the coach's mounting critics.
The Bombers are 1-8 and in line to win the wooden spoon for the first time in Sheedy's 26 years at the club.
Hird, who has spent 16 years with the club's record-breaking coach, was adamant that his support of Sheedy was genuine.
"I haven't defended him once, I don't think I'm defending here. I'm just saying I still believe in the way he coaches," Hird said.
"I genuinely believe that he is the right man for the job and I genuinely believe the five public figures at the club -- the CEO (Peter Jackson), the coach, the captain in Matthew Lloyd, myself as former captain, and the chairman (Neil McKissock) -- have to stay united and forge a way to make this club successful again.
"The moment the five of us, or how many there are, break down is the moment we go into a tailspin.
"If Sheeds thinks he can take this football club to its next premiership, then he should be coach and I would back him."
He described his faith in Sheedy as "huge".
"I've been there 16 years. Sometimes, you scratch your head and ask: 'Why is he doing that? What's he all about? He's wrong'. But it always ends up being right, so why would you lose faith right now?" he said.
Hird, however, said Sheedy would be judged on his performance, just as the players were.
"He doesn't have to win a premiership next year to be still coaching, but he's got to perform like everyone else," Hird said.
"If we don't perform then there's going to be changes made and that might be to the playing personnel, it might be across the board at the club, but I don't think you jump to the conclusion and say that's Kevin Sheedy. "He's got a vision, a plan and he'll be the one making the changes I'd say."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19324645%255E20322,00.html
The second article was a bit too long to post but also interesting.
Sheedy is still the one, says Hird
01 June 2006 Herald Sun
Mark Robinson
JAMES Hird has thrown his considerable support behind long-time coach Kevin Sheedy, saying Essendon should re-sign him for 2008 and beyond.
The Bombers champ, 33, also gave the strongest hint he'll play next season -- if his body holds up.
"Yes (I'll play on) if I have an injury-free rest of the year," Hird said.
"Sheeds has spoken briefly to me and told me he would like me to keep playing.
"If we had a good year this year I would've called it quits and it still might happen, but the want for me to play is as strong as ever.
"At times like this you need all hands on deck, not blokes jumping off and saying it's too hard."
While welcome news for the beleaguered club, it's Hird's unequivocal support for Sheedy that will interest the coach's mounting critics.
The Bombers are 1-8 and in line to win the wooden spoon for the first time in Sheedy's 26 years at the club.
Hird, who has spent 16 years with the club's record-breaking coach, was adamant that his support of Sheedy was genuine.
"I haven't defended him once, I don't think I'm defending here. I'm just saying I still believe in the way he coaches," Hird said.
"I genuinely believe that he is the right man for the job and I genuinely believe the five public figures at the club -- the CEO (Peter Jackson), the coach, the captain in Matthew Lloyd, myself as former captain, and the chairman (Neil McKissock) -- have to stay united and forge a way to make this club successful again.
"The moment the five of us, or how many there are, break down is the moment we go into a tailspin.
"If Sheeds thinks he can take this football club to its next premiership, then he should be coach and I would back him."
He described his faith in Sheedy as "huge".
"I've been there 16 years. Sometimes, you scratch your head and ask: 'Why is he doing that? What's he all about? He's wrong'. But it always ends up being right, so why would you lose faith right now?" he said.
Hird, however, said Sheedy would be judged on his performance, just as the players were.
"He doesn't have to win a premiership next year to be still coaching, but he's got to perform like everyone else," Hird said.
"If we don't perform then there's going to be changes made and that might be to the playing personnel, it might be across the board at the club, but I don't think you jump to the conclusion and say that's Kevin Sheedy. "He's got a vision, a plan and he'll be the one making the changes I'd say."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19324645%255E20322,00.html
The second article was a bit too long to post but also interesting.
