ANOTHER game, another loss, but Kevin Sheedy won't compromise his Greater Western Sydney mission in the waning weeks of his AFL coaching career.
Saturday's competitive defeat to Essendon was the Giants' 16th straight, and the prospect of Sheedy ending one of the great coaching careers in AFL history without a win in his final year grows each week.
But Sheedy is steadfastly focused on the bigger picture and refuses to alter his approach for the sake of a quick win to pad out his three-decade coaching resume.
The 65-year-old is only interested in doing what he feels is right for the long-term future of the club.
"I hope so," Sheedy said when asked if he could pick up another win before the year is out.
"But I’m not going to worry about it from a point of view of selection.
"I want to play some of the boys we drafted this year, I'm keen to get in (pick No.27) James Stewart and also have a look at (pick No.12) Kristian Jaksch.
"That leaves the club having just about looked at all the players we've drafted.
"That's the important thing to do so the next coach has had a look at AFL-standard games, (so you know) who do you keep and who is going to be really fantastic players."
One of those fantastic players is clearly key forward Jeremy Cameron, whose career seemingly takes another leap forward every week.
Cameron, who turned 20 in April, was a little off target on Saturday but still kicked 4.5 to take his tally for the season to a remarkable 43 goals.
Anointed a possible future captain of the club by Sheedy on Saturday, Cameron could form a partnership with Buddy Franklin if the off-contract Hawthorn superstar decides to join GWS for 2014.
That is a frightening prospect for the rest of the competition, according to Bombers coach James Hird.
"That would be scary, Buddy and Cameron together," Hird told his post-match press conference.
"That would scare most opposition I think.
"We've just marvelled at Jeremy Cameron both times we've played him this year.
"If the ball goes near him, he wins it, and he's got speed for a big man.
"I can't speak highly enough of him.
"He seems to enjoy playing against us and we saw another example of a young superstar about to take the competition by the scruff of the neck."
Hird also spoke about the profound influence Sheedy has had on him, with the four-time premiership winning veteran the only coach Hird had during his outstanding playing career.
While he is known for his success and longevity, Sheedy is also known for his quick wit and he had one last quip for his old protégé on Saturday.
When it was suggested Sheedy had made an indelible mark on his career, the master coach cheekily distanced himself from Hird's recent troubles during the ongoing investigation into the Bombers' former supplement program.
"Not for the last couple of years I haven't," he said.
"That's alright, I'm only saying … he's got his team in the four at the moment and it's a damn good effort with the pressure they've been under."
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_JD
