Saturday night's game against the Western Bulldogs at the Dome will be an historic night for Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy.
An icon of the club, Sheeds will participate in his 879th official match as a player or coach, breaking the all-time VFL / AFL record established by Jock McHale.
Sheeds' record comprises 251 premiership games as a player for Richmond between 1967-79 including the 1969, 1973 and 1974 premierships. He also kicked 91 goals.
He has coached 628 premiership games at Essendon since 1981 including the 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000 premierships. Dick Reynolds is the next longest serving Essendon coach with 415 games, then Jack Worrall with 135 games, John Coleman 133 games and Des Tuddenham 90 games.
McHale played 261 premiership games for Collingwood as a player and player-coach from 1903-20 and then participated in a further 617 premiership games as a coach only through to 1949 to tally 878 games.
To help mark the special occasion, Essendon players have recorded a special message that is playing on BOMBER.tv this week.
Sheeds will also be available to take your phone calls this Sunday on Bomber Radio from 9pm. Tune in to Sport 927 and call (03) 9347 3477 to speak to Sheeds. If Sport 927 doesnt broadcast in your area you can also listen live on: www.sport927.com.au
McHale and Sheedy are followed on the all-time list by Leigh Matthews (763 games comprising 332 games as a player for Hawthorn, 224 games as a coach for Collingwood and 207 games as a coach for the Brisbane Lions), David Parkin (729 games comprising 211 games as a player for Hawthorn, 94 games as a coach for Hawthorn, 355 games as a coach for Carlton and 69 games as a coach for Fitzroy), Mick Malthouse (727 games comprising 53 games a player for St Kilda, 121 games as a player for Richmond, 135 games as a coach for Footscray, 243 games as a coach for West Coast and 175 games as a coach for Collingwood) and Ron Barassi (719 games comprising 254 games as a player and player-coach for Melbourne and Carlton and a then a further 465 games as a coach only for Carlton, North Melbourne, Melbourne and Sydney).
Other interesting Sheedy facts:
He began his senior playing career at Prahran Football Club in the V.F.A in 1964 and transferred to
Kevin was Skills Coach at
During his time at Essendon the club has competed in seven regular season grand finals.
Sheeds was “All Australian” coach in 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000.
He has also experinced success with the International Rules Team, who he coached in 2005 and 2006, winning three out of four Tests.
