Kevin Sheedy into Tiger fold
Herald-Sun Damian Barrett
July 26, 2007 12:00am
THE Kevin Sheedy-to-Richmond push has been reignited after the veteran coach's exit from Essendon.
While Terry Wallace is contracted as Tigers coach until the end of 2009, immense pressure to have Sheedy return to his original football home is expected to fall on the club in coming weeks.
Richmond president Gary March yesterday ruled out Sheedy returning as coach during Wallace's contract.
But some Tigers greats urged the club to consider all options to bring Sheedy back into the fold, and adding to the intrigue was Fremantle president Rick Hart saying his club would consider Sheedy for its vacant coaching position.
Another Hart - Royce, a teammate of Sheedy's in the Richmond Team of the Century - said a Punt Rd return for Sheedy was "food for thought".
"They've only won one game (this year), haven't they," Royce Hart said.
"It is an interesting situation. I don't know, in some capacity, maybe it is the way to go.
"It would be good for the club if he did come back, to have another ex-Richmond person there, and it is not just his coaching.
"I could probably sum it up by saying it is food for thought."
March said Sheedy's availability, after 27 seasons as Essendon coach, would not sway his board.
"In a football sense, there is no lure to get Kevin back to Richmond," March said.
"In a non-football sense, sure, we would be stupid not to look at it because he is a great football person and has a great history with our club and Essendon.
"Would he be a great ambassador for our club? Sure he would. And if we can get him back in some other capacity, yes, but not in a football sense."
March said the Tigers' football plans for 2008 and 2009 would not be moulded to include Sheedy, who played 251 matches and in three premierships with the Tigers.
"Most definitely (Wallace's contract will be honoured)," March said.
"We don't see a football role for Kevin because we have already set our path for next year with other recruitments we have got to do and we have started that process.
"So, we would have to turn it on its head and we are not prepared to do that.
"I can tell you that absolutely, categorically.
"The board met last night, we won't meet again till the next scheduled one (in late August)."
Another Tiger Team of the Century member Bill Barrot, along with club stalwarts Mal Brown and Tony Jewell, also added his weight to have Sheedy involved at Punt Rd.
"Obviously Terry is there, but my feeling would be he would be welcome at Richmond with open arms, and I don't know if that should be next year or the following year," Barrot said.
"Enthusiasm can come and go, it all depends if it is lasting, and Kevin has proved his is lasting."
Fremantle boss Rick Hart said Sheedy would be discussed by his board and even loomed as part of a possible double-act coaching set-up alongside his former assistant Mark Harvey.
"With Kevin's name now in the air, you would certainly have to look at it, have to consider talking to him," Hart said.
"We have already said we are looking down the line of the merit in considering a dual coach set-up and that is something we will also consider."
Brown said: "He would be very handy for Richmond with his recruiting and his marketability, he would lift the income to another level.
"He could be director of football or football manager, taking the overall big picture of the game."
Jewell said: "To bring him back in some role is fine but to bring him back as coach is another thing altogether. You would certainly try to entice him back in some meaningful way."
Should Sheedy fail to find a football coaching or director role next year, the AFL will employ him under its game development portfolio.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said: "His work has been invaluable and football owes him a great debt of gratitude."
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