""This is the best group of players that I have ever been involved in 40 years that haven’t won the games and are on the bottom of the ladder,"" he said in his press conference this afternoon before training.
""They have not lost their spirit and I think that is something that has been quite unique about these sort of players, because I have been at Richmond in down times and at Essendon in down times,"" he continued to say.
""I think it is also a combination of all the people around the footy club. We have a fresh group of coaches to come in the last two years in Dean Wallis, Gary O’Donnell and Gary Ayres.
""Hopefully I have been positive and I always say to them to never let anybody take the spirit out of you. Never let another opponent, never let media speculation on whether they played well or not, or whether we are a great club or not.
""We know historically we are a great club and we are not playing anywhere near our capacities yet. But my job is to naturally make sure that we develop the young kids as quick as we can, support the senior group and they know that that is where we are going.
""We could go to Adelaide and get beaten by a kick and we still haven’t won a game but hopefully showing a great spirited game.
Sheedy also revealed that James Hird has had a slight setback in his return from a hamstring injury after pulling up sore at training on Monday night. Sheedy suggested he may now rest his champion player until after the split round, extending his time on the sidelines to ensure he does not break down again.
""He just was sore the other day. I’m not in a rush to get Hirdy back until he is completely right. So that gives me an opportunity to play another young player or two.
""Why rush Hird? If he comes back rushed and does another hamstring at this time of his career it would not be the smart thing to do, so he might not play until after the break,"" Sheedy said.
To watch the full press conference from today on Bomber.tv click here.
