Growing up and witnessing the aura Barassi had around him and of course having lived through the Kevin Sheedy era, those two are easily the most significant figures I can remember. Kevin has endured … he has just been amazing.
As a code, we are infinitely better for having Kevin making a contribution to the game.
There are far too many moments in Kevin’s football life to remember, but obviously the scarf-waving between Essendon and West Coast that he started and his references to officials as ‘Martians’ – when he was just trying to find a distraction – are two that stand out.
But his most important contributions have been to raise the importance of indigenous players to our game, his desire to make it as inclusive a game as possible and his ideas to start and promote the Anzac Day and Dreamtime at the ’G games. He has constantly been thinking about how he can better the game.
That leads me to my two favourite Kevin Sheedy stories.
In 2008, we celebrated 150 years of football and we asked Kevin to be the ambassador for that year and he said yes in an instant. He committed himself to an amazing year of programs and promotions and he took the game around the country.
He did it because he loved the game. His efforts that year were phenomenal.
Then we asked him if he would like to be the inaugural coach of the GWS Giants and he also said yes to that quickly. To uproot his family, to leave Melbourne to take on probably the greatest challenge we have faced as a code, to expand the game into western Sydney because he cares about the game so much, speaks volumes for the man.
The secret to Kevin’s longevity is his deep passion for the game. He just loves everything about the game and what it does for the community.
He loves its inclusiveness and its diversity; it is quintessentially an Australian game and Kevin is a quintessential part of the game. He loves it like no other and he would do anything for the game.
That is the secret to his longevity. As long as he has got the passion and love for this game, he will be in for as long as he can. I really admire him for that.
He will be remembered fondly and he will be remembered for so many important contributions. What he has done as a player, coach and promoter is second to none.
As I said, I put him up there with Ron Barassi. To me they are inseparable and two of our great rock stars, if that is the right terminology, and we are very grateful for their contribution.
For Kevin, I am just so grateful we got a chance to have him for the GWS Giants and we are hoping he can continue with the Giants in another role.
Thank you Kevin on behalf of everyone involved in the game.
ANDREW DEMETRIOU, AFL CEO
