Sheedy makes coaching return
09/11/09 11:22 AM
Premiership legend Kevin Sheedy will lead the new Greater Western Sydney franchise into the AFL in 2012 after being named the club's inaugural head coach.

Sheedy, a veteran of 251 games with Richmond and a four-time premiership coach at Essendon, has signed a three-year contract.

He will begin work immediately, combining coaching with off-field development of the club as it prepares to field a team in 2012.

Sheedy says the time is right for a new club.

"This is the right time to come into an area at Blacktown and say, look, we have a different game, we'd love to share it with you," he said.

"Just come and see what we can do and we are not here for five minutes. We are here forever.

"I think I have a lot to offer and can play a strong role across a range of areas to give this club the best chance of being granted a license by the AFL Commission," he added in a statement.

Sheedy played 251 games with Richmond before beginning a 27-year coaching reign at Essendon, where he won flags in 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has endorsed the appointment.

"The AFL has identified the Greater West of Sydney as a priority for expansion and Team GWS needs to demonstrate that it can build support and connect with the community," he said in a statement.

"Kevin Sheedy has been a success as a player and coach and is without peer when it comes to engaging new communities in our game."

Apart from his immense football knowledge, he will bring a rare passion and a talent for grabbing headlines.

Former Sydney Swans coach Tommy Hafey says Sheedy is the right man for the job.

"His record and his profile, his image would be fantastic for them up there," he said.

"I know it is going to be very, very tough but to be quite honest, I wouldn't be attempting it."'Great PR'

Current Swans coach Paul Roos has applauded the appointment.

"Someone of his experience is not going to be as worried about starting a career and building a win-loss ratio and all those sorts of things," he said.

"Such an experienced coach who has had four premierships already, [it's] great PR. So I think it is a great appointment."

But Roos warns the task ahead is enormous, even for someone as experienced as Sheedy.

"I think a lot of the job, particularly initially, is going to be about trying to get the publicity and then they've got their academy starting," he said.

"I presume he'll sort of head the academy and try and get kids to join the West Sydney academy and all those sorts of things."

Sheedy is reported to be planning on moving to western Sydney in the next couple of months. Then he will begin the two years of hard slog before his team takes the field in an official AFL match in 2012.

Source: ABC