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Thought I would share with you all a tribute I have written up for the company I work for.
www.bestbets.com.au/web/newsframe.cmd?ID=9995
Sheedy’s Legacy..
Phil Zammit
Wed July 25 2007
Kevin Sheedy was more to Essendon than simply a coach..
Sheedy is an icon of the game, an icon of the Essendon Football Club. He is part myth, part legend but very much real.
During his time at the Club, he has accumulated an impressive CV - 27 years, 629 Games, 19 Finals appearances, 7 Grand Finals and 4 Premierships.
However, Sheedy was far more than numbers. He put Essendon on the map.
He led the Club from being a suburban team to be one of the most powerful and financially stable sporting clubs in Australia. In the early 80’s he took Essendon far and wide to play all over the country. It is no coincidence that you can walk through Darwin, Perth or Hobart and you will find many kids wearing Essendon jumpers.
Sheedy, more than anyone, understood the importance of marketing and selling the game. Through thousands of media appearances, as well as many functions and public appearances, Sheedy introduced the AFL and Essendon to the world.
Sheedy leaves many legacies to the game.
ANZAC Day. Dreamtime at the G. The waving of the jackets rivalry with West Coast. Famous public memories like tying the sock down at Windy Hill, even though he later claimed that wasn’t him. There was the marshmallow rivalry with the Kangaroos in the late 90’s. The cutting of the throat gesture he made to Mitch White, his constant referring to the umpires as Martians.
Above all, Sheedy has been a coach for the fans. Sheedy is a person’s person. He has spoken to many thousand of supporters in his life time, but he pays more than lip service, he genuinely cares about fans and takes the time to sit down and listen.
I have several encounters with Sheedy. From the time when I was a young kid and I got his autograph, to the time he asked me how the team was looking at training earlier this year. Sheedy has always had an aura about him; however he has always been approachable. More often than not, while watching training from the sidelines he will approach you.
My favourite memory of Sheeds was an innocuous one that occurred at a pre season practice game against the Swans at Princess Park. After the game had finished, and the players had trundled back into the rooms, I was standing next to a young Bomber supporter about 7 years of age who was hoeing into a bucket of chips. Sheedy spotted him and headed over. The kid looked terrified, frozen still in the prospect that Sheedy was looking at him; let alone might chat to him. Sheedy put him at ease immediately by asking him for a chip.
Over the next minute the face of this kid grew with confidence and pride and Sheedy engaged him in conversation, asking him if he liked sauce, who his favourite player was and when the kid replied Scott Lucas, Sheedy then sought the kid’s opinion on whether he should be played in the forward or backline. The youngster was beaming, and after the conversation he raced over to his father to tell him about it. He will be a Bomber fan for life. For me this is the persona of Sheedy, the statesman.
We often talk about footballers being role models. I can not think of a better role model than Sheedy. As a child I idolised him. As an adult I respect and admire him. Over many years have read a plethora of books and articles about him, listened to him multiple times in various sections of the media. I have learnt plenty from Sheedy, not just about football, but about life.
To me, Sheedy is more than a footballer, more than a coach.
Kevin Sheedy, I Thank You.
www.bestbets.com.au/web/newsframe.cmd?ID=9995
Sheedy’s Legacy..
Phil Zammit
Wed July 25 2007
Kevin Sheedy was more to Essendon than simply a coach..
Sheedy is an icon of the game, an icon of the Essendon Football Club. He is part myth, part legend but very much real.
During his time at the Club, he has accumulated an impressive CV - 27 years, 629 Games, 19 Finals appearances, 7 Grand Finals and 4 Premierships.
However, Sheedy was far more than numbers. He put Essendon on the map.
He led the Club from being a suburban team to be one of the most powerful and financially stable sporting clubs in Australia. In the early 80’s he took Essendon far and wide to play all over the country. It is no coincidence that you can walk through Darwin, Perth or Hobart and you will find many kids wearing Essendon jumpers.
Sheedy, more than anyone, understood the importance of marketing and selling the game. Through thousands of media appearances, as well as many functions and public appearances, Sheedy introduced the AFL and Essendon to the world.
Sheedy leaves many legacies to the game.
ANZAC Day. Dreamtime at the G. The waving of the jackets rivalry with West Coast. Famous public memories like tying the sock down at Windy Hill, even though he later claimed that wasn’t him. There was the marshmallow rivalry with the Kangaroos in the late 90’s. The cutting of the throat gesture he made to Mitch White, his constant referring to the umpires as Martians.
Above all, Sheedy has been a coach for the fans. Sheedy is a person’s person. He has spoken to many thousand of supporters in his life time, but he pays more than lip service, he genuinely cares about fans and takes the time to sit down and listen.
I have several encounters with Sheedy. From the time when I was a young kid and I got his autograph, to the time he asked me how the team was looking at training earlier this year. Sheedy has always had an aura about him; however he has always been approachable. More often than not, while watching training from the sidelines he will approach you.
My favourite memory of Sheeds was an innocuous one that occurred at a pre season practice game against the Swans at Princess Park. After the game had finished, and the players had trundled back into the rooms, I was standing next to a young Bomber supporter about 7 years of age who was hoeing into a bucket of chips. Sheedy spotted him and headed over. The kid looked terrified, frozen still in the prospect that Sheedy was looking at him; let alone might chat to him. Sheedy put him at ease immediately by asking him for a chip.
Over the next minute the face of this kid grew with confidence and pride and Sheedy engaged him in conversation, asking him if he liked sauce, who his favourite player was and when the kid replied Scott Lucas, Sheedy then sought the kid’s opinion on whether he should be played in the forward or backline. The youngster was beaming, and after the conversation he raced over to his father to tell him about it. He will be a Bomber fan for life. For me this is the persona of Sheedy, the statesman.
We often talk about footballers being role models. I can not think of a better role model than Sheedy. As a child I idolised him. As an adult I respect and admire him. Over many years have read a plethora of books and articles about him, listened to him multiple times in various sections of the media. I have learnt plenty from Sheedy, not just about football, but about life.
To me, Sheedy is more than a footballer, more than a coach.
Kevin Sheedy, I Thank You.
