By Marcus Uhe
Legend in the Australian Football League Hall of Fame Kevin Sheedy had the crowd in the palm of his hand at Blue Hill Rise Retirement Village in Cranbourne on Thursday 17 November, dropping-in to the facility as part of a fundraising morning tea for Fight MND and Breast Cancer research.
The Fight MND campaign is one close to Mr Sheedy’s heart, not only through his connection to Neale Daniher, a player he coached at Essendon who has become the public face of the campaign in Victoria, but it also sadly claimed the life of his father when he was a teenager.
There was plenty of red and black in the audience as the four-time Essendon premiership coach as he reflected on his journey, from growing-up in South Yarra, to his triple premiership playing career at the Tigers, his 27 years in-charge at the Bombers, pioneering the beginning of GWS Giants and everything in-between.
He also engaged in a Q-and-A session with the audience, where a former Fitzroy opponent of his recounted a game in which the Royal Family, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, were in attendance.
“I met this gentleman and he said, ‘we need to get people to come to elderly home villages’ and I said, ‘Yeah I’ll come out’”, Mr Sheedy said of the reason for his visit.
“This is my first time doing it and I’m going to enjoy it. My career spanned over their lifetime and we’re going to go over areas that they might want to ask about in the Q and A session; what happened, where, why, so forth.
“It’s a good communication session for me to find out what people my age want to know about me. It think good leaders pass on knowledge and that’s what today’s about.
“There’ll be a bit of humour, a bit of bridge building.”
He listed his proudest achievements as growing participation numbers in the indigenous population through his recruitment of Michael Long and championing the ‘Dreamtime at the G’ game, while mot missing an opportunity to throw a few barbs at long-time Essendon rivals Carlton and North Melbourne.
The event was organised was by Blue Hills resident and passionate Bombers fan, Les Bilham, who was looking for an opportunity to lift spirits in his community after a difficult couple of years due to the pandemic.
“I’ve heard him speak a few times and listened to him talk,” Mr Bilham said.
“He’s one of the greatest talkers, motivators, or inspirational people you’d ever know. You can see the people today how great (the residents) got on with him.
“It was fantastic, it went better than what we thought it would. There was standing room only available.
“They’ll (the residents) talk about this for a long time.”
Reflecting on the glory days of the Bombers under Sheedy’s reign with this fellow Essendon supporter, Mr Bilham said three things will always come to mind when he thinks about his coaching legacy; the premierships, turning the entire organisation into a powerhouse of the industry and “most feared” sides in the competition, and the never-say-die attitude he instilled in the playing group.
“You can have the jacket wave, the marshmallows, the windsocks, but they were the most important things.
“They could be seven, eight goals down but could come back and win the game.
“In the rest of my lifetime I don’t think (Essendon will) ever replace him. I don’t think there’s anyone that could replace him.”
As of Friday morning 18 November, more than $2400 had been raised from the function, with event sponsor Klean Air Australia promising to contribute $15 for every split system or ducted system cleaning service purchased at Blue Hill.
