Legend Sheedy won't play kingmakerMICHELANGELO RUCCI, CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER | June 03, 2009
KEVIN Sheedy expects to play no part in deciding Richmond's next coach.
And he has no regret in playing the critical role in luring Brownlow Medallist Ben Cousins to the Tigers, insisting the troubled midfielder will contribute to Richmond's revival for the next three years.
Sheedy yesterday put himself out of contention to serve as the Tigers' interim coach - to replace Terry Wallace after Friday's clash with the Western Bulldogs - or for the sub-committee to appoint his successor.
But Sheedy advised Richmond's eventual head-hunters against limiting its candidates for Wallace's replacement along the great divide between an experienced coach or a novice such as Hawthorn assistant coach Damien Hardwick.
"It doesn't matter - get the person who will be a great coach," said Sheedy. "And that person is hard to find."
Sheedy, who was a novice when he took charge of Essendon in 1981 and set up a four-premiership dynasty at Windy Hill, yesterday dismissed his immediate return to the coaching ranks.
"My job at Richmond is to help the club grow its membership and marketing - not its football operations," Sheedy said at Alberton yesterday when he worked this role for the financially troubled Port Adelaide.
"And I doubt I will be asked to take on any part in Richmond's football operations now."
Sheedy left the door open for an unlikely call to Richmond's coaching box next season - but not before.
"I've had a good break," said Sheedy, who last year had his first winter out of coaching since ending a 27-season tenure at Essendon. "I needed one.
"But now my focus at Richmond is in the corporate operations. There, we certainly have got better. Membership is up.
"If you can't win a premiership, how else can you help a club? What I am doing now for Richmond is of more value than being a (caretaker) coach."
Sheedy yesterday continued his mentoring of Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams - one of his former assistants, at Essendon, and a contender for the Tigers' vacancy if his contract is not renewed at Alberton at season's end.
He joined the public campaigning by the Power players to keep Williams at Alberton questioning where Port would find a better qualified coach.
Sheedy's major revelation yesterday was his account of how he went to Perth to inspire Cousins' return from football's wilderness.
"I found a Ben Cousins who was full of attitude because 16 clubs had ignored him in the draft last November," Sheedy said. "I told him to lose the attitude - and to understand no-one cared about him (east of Perth). He needed to sell himself."
Sheedy said he then put Cousins on a mobile telephone call to Wallace, opening the door for the former West Coast captain to be claimed by Richmond.
This ended the year-long exile forced upon Cousins by the AFL for his bringing the game into disrepute.
"Richmond has gained 7000 new members and Ben was among the club's best players against Port Adelaide and last week against Fremantle," Sheedy said. "Ben's best will be seen next year. He has two more good years in him. He is a player who can get Richmond to finals.
"If Ben had not played again it would have amounted to him getting life - that is not fair, totally unfair. It compares to Dawn Fraser getting life for pinching a flag (at the Olympics)."
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/sport/afl/story/0,26547,25578827-5016212,00.html
