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Kevin Sheedy is the proverbial big noter of contraversy and bulldust in the AFLhttp://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21359741%5E19742,00.html
THE simmering four-decade feud between Kevin Sheedy and Robert Walls has erupted again, with the Essendon coach yesterday lashing his former opponent and rival over his constant criticism of AFL coaches.
Sheedy said yesterday Walls lacked credibility after two of the clubs he coached went "out of existence" and claimed his two-year stretch at Richmond was a "waste" of time.
The Essendon coach's explosive outburst came after Walls spent a week casting a withering eye over the supposed failings of a raft of AFL coaches.
Walls questioned whether Essendon had a game plan under Sheedy, said Mark Thompson and Chris Connolly would likely be sacked if their sides did not finish in the top four, and accused Dean Laidley of lacking the tactical nous to coach the Kangaroos.
He also labelled Denis Pagan selfish for recruiting experienced players to win games and said Mick Malthouse should have achieved more given Collingwood's riches.
But it was his claim that Sheedy spent too much time playing an ambassadorial role and not enough coaching that saw the veteran coach hit him with both barrels.
"Clearly, in the end, two of his clubs (Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears) have gone broke and are out of existence," he writes in an open letter to Walls in today's Sunday Herald Sun.
"Possibly one of his weaknesses was that he only wanted to coach the team, not build the organisation. I don't think he sees that when he writes about other organisations.
"It's amazing that you can win a premiership and get into another Grand Final like he did at Carlton, and still be sacked two years after winning the flag. What does that say about him? What happened there?
"Robert's two years at Richmond were just a waste. I don't know whether he left Richmond with a future. So he has to be very careful when he starts telling coaches what and how and when they are going to coach.
"In the end, maybe Carlton and that one premiership saved him. Robert has become a big negative and I think people are getting sick of it."
Two of the game's dominant figures, Sheedy and Walls have been at loggerheads since they started playing for arch-rivals Richmond and Carlton, respectively, in 1967.
They also started as senior coaches in the same year, 1981, and their on-field battles turned into coaching box rivalry, with several heated incidents fanning the flames.
When Walls – just as rugged as Sheedy on the field – said in 2001 that Bulldog Tony Liberatore should retire amid allegations he punched Matthew Knights, Sheedy accused him of gross hypocrisy.
It started a public feud that continues today despite Walls once barracking for Essendon.
"Robert coached 39 games of football for Richmond, but someone like Kevin Morris or Tom Hafey would have been a better coach of the Tigers than him," Sheedy said.
"I have never done a drill like he did with Shane Strempel (at Brisbane) where the team belted the crap out of him with boxing gloves.
"I have never left a note on my president's car (Brisbane's Noel Gordon) telling him to get stuffed for parking in my car park."
Since his last club job Walls has been on several coaching sub-committees and was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame last year.
Sheedy said Walls needed to be more constructive in his criticism.
"He won his first premiership after seven seasons, and then was sacked. Twenty years later he is still bitter about it," Sheedy said.
"At least Tim Watson sugar-coats his hand-grenades from the cubby house.
"Robert doesn't pull his punches. And when you do that, sooner or later people will start punching back. Kick-to-kick can be off the field too, Robert."
Bravo Kevin.
About time someone with credibility called out this fool.
Walls is paid to say what he thinks and has the guts to do it . Sheedy is backfire man, Mr hi and mighty, of the comments of all the so called wise old
men of the AFL. He is the game changer the changer of the tactics that are causing the AFL to change rules that is STUFFING Australian football up . Sheedy is seriously a pain in the bum and definately a legend in his own lunch break although all you worshippers will kiss that bum won't you.
Yes the players are faster and fitter than in times past but gee its a different
world footy now and I don't know if its for the better . But really let the journos do their job and let old overrated goats coach themselves out to pasture and give someone else a go .Then the old boy can become a sport journo too.But off course, once again, the worshippers will be calling him the god of footy, and I think he beleives it now himself .He aint!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stop having a go at Sheedy because he's had a go at the tool that is Roberyt Walls.
