Hardwick the new Sheedy?11/07/2010 10:05 PM
Paul Gough
SportalIs history about to repeat itself for Richmond and Essendon only this time the other way around?
Back in 1981 the Tigers had the chance to appoint one of their favourite sons in Kevin Sheedy as coach but having just won their fifth flag in 13 years naturally stuck with incumbent coach Tony Jewell.
So instead it was an Essendon side that had not won a premiership since 1965 and had endured a miserable decade throughout the 1970's that pounced and would make a decision that would change the course of history for these two great clubs by snapping up the untried Sheedy as its new coach.
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Now fast forward to the end of 2007 when the Bombers - renowned for their professional administration over the past 30 years - clumsily handled Sheedy's exit from the club after the board had decided it was time for a change.
One of the leading contenders was one of the Bombers' own - a tough, uncompromising defender who played the game in the same ferocious manner as Sheedy had done three decades earlier by the name of Damien Hardwick.
But Knights got the job and Hardwick was left to wait for another day - which would come at the end of 2009 when Terry Wallace and then caretaker coach Jade Rawlings became the latest coaches to feel the axe at Punt Road.
Just as a former Richmond player in Sheedy led Essendon from the wilderness so it could be a former Essendon player in Hardwick that leads the Tigers out of the darkness.
We can only post snippets from Sportal so the full article is at:http://sportal.com.au/afl-opinion-display/hardwick-the-new-sheedy-94747