Sheedy: Relax, Terry Wallace, your job is safe
Glenn McFarlane | October 26, 2008
KEVIN Sheedy says Richmond coach Terry Wallace has nothing to fear about the AFL coaching legend's return to Punt Rd next season.
Sheedy is close to finalising a deal in a marketing and strategic role at the club where he made his name, but has no intentions of playing a part in the football department.
"It's hard enough to coach - you don't want ex-coaches running around behind you," he said.
"I don't really want to move into the footy department at all.
"There will be times when I will sit down with Terry and have a chat about the club in general. But I will be looking at other areas where I can bring some expertise to the club."
Some have suggested a Sheedy return to Richmond could prove unsettling for Wallace, who is about to enter the final year of his contract.
But Sheedy says nothing could be further from the truth.
The 61-year-old four-time premiership coach doubts if he will coach an AFL team again, but admits he could "never say never".
"I can't make a comment on that because something might happen at another club," he said.
"The odds are I'll never coach again. Not many people get employed at 60 unless you live in America or Europe. Besides, I am enjoying the life I've got at the moment."
Sheedy's return to the yellow and black will come 30 years after he retired as a player. He spoke with Tigers president Gary March about a role when his time at Essendon ended last year, but wanted a year away to relax.
"It's the first time - in 44 years since I joined the VFA - to have a rest, and to be quite honest I have still worked pretty hard this year," he said.
"Now I have got a set of ideas and thoughts that might help some clubs and the AFL."
He plans to put some of those ideas in place at Richmond, saying he was buoyed by the fact the Tigers boasted a large fan base, despite a 28-year premiership drought.
He will push the blockbuster games he has tried to create for Richmond - Dreamtime at the 'G against Essendon and the Eureka Game against North Melbourne.
"I was away for Eureka this year, which was frustrating," he said.
"But I would love to think we could get 60,000 people to the game next year, to thank the people who have worked to build this nation."
He says Richmond has the potential to "do what Essendon has done off the field".
"This is about Richmond and about how we can lock them in as safe and secure in the AFL. The Bombers are locked away and safe because they have about $10 million in the bank or in assets.
"I'm going to bring to the table what I can to help the long-term future of Richmond."
Sheedy, who is expected to keep a part-time role with the AFL next season, wants Richmond to help spread the game internationally.
Speaking as part of the release of his new book, Stand Your Ground, Sheedy says he wanted to trade Bomber captain Matthew Lloyd to the Eagles in a deal to lure Chris Judd at the end of last year.
"Not getting Judd was a huge loss for the Bombers," Sheedy writes. "Even now, West Coast still needs a full-forward, so they might have been really interested in the deal.
"Going to Perth would have given Matthew the chance to play in his favourite position all the time. He wasn't always happy when I switched him to centre half-forward.
"It can be a hard thing in a footy club if the captain doesn't agree with what the coach believes is best for the team."
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