Sheeds, the Country Game fixture has now been confirmed for Round 4 next season, how are the plans for the match coming along?

The Country Game plans for next year are going really well. It’s a great opportunity for our Club and we are pleased to be playing against Geelong at the MCG and playing a regional game in the pre-season. I’ve been doing a lot of travelling around Australia in recent months and there has been an enormous amount of interest in the game and that is important because our people in the country have been doing it tough and this is about them and giving the members and supporters of Essendon and Geelong, as well as the AFL, the opportunity to stand up and recognise the hard work of our farmers and regional people. We really have no idea in the city and this game will help to educate and raise awareness about the issues, as well as celebrate something special so we’ve got to make sure we create one of the greatest games ever in the history of Australian Rules Football.

Have you seen the Club has been hand delivering card to members thanking them for their support?

This is one of the best ideas I've ever heard from an AFL Club. I’ve been to South Australia last week, and I’m in Western Australia at the moment and everywhere I go Essendon members keep coming up to me and telling how much it meant to them to receive the card from the staff at the Club. Some members are saying it’s the best they have felt since the 2000 premiership. It’s an amazing story and I know this week the staff are attempting to get to as many of our Melbourne members households as possible to deliver the next round of cards so look out later this week. 

There have been a number of changes to our interstate travel plans next season, you must be pleased to see the Club engaging more with its fans interstate?

I think it is wonderful that John Worsfold is taking the team interstate earlier when the team travels and having the Captain’s Run training session interstate in 2016. It’s a great opportunity for John himself, the coaches and of course the players to meet the members and fans and continue to connect with our Bomber family. It is great for our interstate members to know they can come to watch training, go to a function the night before the game and then obviously go to the game itself. I will be at most of these events and trips so I’m really excited about it and it really is getting back to the way Essendon used to be taking the team around the country as much as possible to meet our supporters.

How are you enjoying your role at Essendon?

I am enjoying the role and bringing information back to the Club. It’s a two day a week job but I’ve been able to incorporate Essendon in with the corporate opportunities I have through my company SheedyVision so when I get around Australia I get to see and meet a lot of Essendon people who are very successful in business and in life as well as hear from the heart and soul members who live around the country and then I can bring that information and learning back to the Club. 

Did you consider running for the Board?

I really enjoyed my time at GWS as a Board member and that was really great experience but it is not something that I am keen on doing at Essendon. I am pleased to see the quality of candidates in this years Board election, in particular Paul Brasher who is a great Essendon person and has done an unbelievable job in his time on the Board, as well as a very old friend of mine, Dave Barham. Dave has vast experience in media and broadcasting that I think will be very valuable to the Club as this is an area where the landscape is continually changing. I wish all the applicants well because it is great to see so many passionate people nominating for the Board. Competition can only be a good thing and will make for a strong Board to lead the Club into the future. 

Paul Little will stand down as Chairman at the end of the year, how do you think he has performed in the role?

Paul Little has done a magnificent job working through the three years in very difficult circumstances and I personally would like to thank him. Even being in Sydney and watching what was happening I had an enormous amount of respect for the way he selflessly took on the role. I have been back at the Club for about nine months now and I’ve seen it first hand so I would like to publically acknowledge and thank Paul as he retires from the position at the AGM.