Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy today paid tribute to 1993 premiership wingman Ricky Olarenshaw. Olarenshaw today announced his retirement from AFL football with a string of hamstring injuries forcing him out of the game. Olarenshaw played 77 games for Essendon between 1993 and 1998 before going to Collingwood where he managed just five games in two years. Olarenshaw transferred to the Kangaroos this season. He played in the Bombers 1993 premiership side, the 1994 pre-season premiership side and was a Norwich Rising Star nominee in 1993. Sheedy said he was a very talented footballer.

""He was a very talented player whose body wouldn't let him play in the end. He is a quality person and he played one of the best first quarters in a Grand Final I have ever seen. The game does put a lot of pressure on players in the area where he has had a lot of injuries. I'm telling you life will only get better for him - he has talent and is a very smart young man,"" Sheedy said.