Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce four-time premiership coach Kevin Sheedy AO will join the Board of Directors.
Sheedy will replace outgoing director Katie Lio, who announced her intention to resign from her position at the upcoming Board meeting on October 15.
The AFL Hall of Fame Legend and senior coach of the Bombers for 27 years between 1981 and 2007, will be formally ratified as a director at the October meeting.
Incoming President Paul Brasher said the club would be strengthened by Sheedy’s appointment to the Board.
“On behalf of our members, we are thrilled to welcome Kevin Sheedy to the Board,” Brasher said.
“We have been talking with Kevin in recent months about how we might make better use of his experience and football knowledge to benefit the club and we agreed that the best way of doing this was for him to join the Board.
“Kevin will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the footy department, but with our football director Sean Wellman and club great Simon Madden, Kevin will ensure we have a high level of rigour around our football discussions at the Board level. He will also continue to be available in a mentoring capacity to Ben Rutten whenever Ben requires it.
“Kevin brings to the Board not only his understanding of coaching and what it takes to run a successful program, but also a diversity of creative ideas and a keen understanding of the interests of our members and other stakeholders.”
Lio will resign from the Board next month, with Sheedy to be appointed to fill the casual vacancy created by Lio’s departure and then stand for re-election in December.
Brasher paid tribute to the outgoing Lio and thanked her for her tireless work and contribution to the Board over the last six years.
“Katie Lio had advised me some time ago that, having served on the Board for six years, she did not intend to nominate for re-election at the end of 2020,” Brasher said.
“With the club’s best interests at heart, Katie has decided to resign now, rather than wait for her term to expire, so that we can get the benefit of Kevin’s expertise over the next two months of planning and preparation for the 2021 season.”
Katie will continue in her role as president of the Essendon VFLW team.
Sheedy said he felt the time was right to be involved with the club at Board level.
“It is a privilege to be asked to join the Board,” Sheedy said.
“My role is to support Sean Wellman as football director and along with Simon Madden, advise the Board on football matters, that is my strength and that is what I will focus on”
“I have more than 50 years of playing, coaching and football experience, and I will bring that to the Board to assist with key football department decisions”
“It is as much about asking the right questions, as it is about anything else. Have we done this? Have we thought about that? These are the types of things I will want to bring to the Board table.”
“We have a good young coach who is going to need our full support, and with Sean Wellman, we are going to provide him with that support from the Board to give him the best chance for success.”
“I know everyone at the club is as determined as ever to win our next premiership, and now more than ever, we need to keep thinking differently and creatively, on and off the field, to keep growing our football club into the future”
Kevin Sheedy AO Achievements:
AFL/VFL
Australian Football Hall of Fame (coach – 2008, elevated to Legend 2018)
All-Australian coach 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000
Jock McHale Medal 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000
International Rules coach 2005-2006
Essendon (1981-2007)
Coached 635 games
Team of the Century (coach)
Hall of Fame - Legend
Premiership coach 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000
Richmond (1967-1979)
Team of the Century
Hall of Fame
Premiership player 1969, 1973, 1974
Captain 1978
Best and Fairest 1976
GWS
Coach 2012 -2013
