Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

[lemmon]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

Marketability is probably second to none, but like most I have reservations as to how he will go with running the club on-field.

[GVGjr]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

I thought they wanted them to be competetive, or did they mean just in the marketplace and not on the field?
Is this the first 100% marketing driven coaching appointment in the AFL?

From a purely coaching perspective I think it's past him but from setting things up right, getting media and corporate attention etc it's a strong move and one that needed to happen.

I wouldn't mind betting that he transitions into a coaching directors role before the club actually plays some games.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

From a purely coaching perspective I think it's past him but from setting things up right, getting media and corporate attention etc it's a strong move and one that needed to happen.

I wouldn't mind betting that he transitions into a coaching directors role before the club actually plays some games.

Agree with this.

Pretty good move by the AFL. No bigger icon than Kevin Sheedy in the game. He might be past his days of coaching, but he's got plenty to offer in various other fields. Even if he only coached the side for 1-2 years before handing it over to one of his assistants, they'd benefit.

That has to be the next question. Who will be the main assistants? They could find themselves as a senior coach relatively quickly.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

I can see why they did it, but to me it's not a great move. How long is he gonna be around as coach? If only a year or two, then they should have just got him in a marketing/PR capacity. Doesn't say much for the current crop of would-be head coaches when the old dinosaur gets the nod (to coach in TWO YEARS TIME!) for a new gig.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

I can see why they did it, but to me it's not a great move. How long is he gonna be around as coach? If only a year or two, then they should have just got him in a marketing/PR capacity. Doesn't say much for the current crop of would-be head coaches when the old dinosaur gets the nod (to coach in TWO YEARS TIME!) for a new gig.

Having passed his use by date at Essendon and then overlooked by both Melbourne and Richmond for younger coaches, one wonders the wisdom by the AFL in appointing Kevin Sheedy. The appointment of Guy McKenna at the Gold Coast after a successful assistant role under Michael Malthouse at Collingwood seems more logical. The same logic should have occurred in Western Sydney leaving Kevin Sheedy to continue his marketing role with the AFL of both the Gold Coast and Western Sydney clubs.
If the AFL has a spare 200 million dollars to play with then who really cares!

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

I would like to hope that any potential draftee's would jump at any chance of being on an AFL list, whether being coached by Sheeds, Malthouse, Eade, Williams...whoever.

It was a move the AFL simply have to make, as a competitive coach, i also believe he is past his use by date, however, W Sydney will need absolutely everything in their powers to make this work, if Sheedy can't succeed, who can, he has promoted the game like no other over the past few decades.

Like GC, i don't believe they will be successful for quite some time, even though they get their grubby hands on the best kids, even gun kids take time to mature, and mature as a team.

I'd be backing a Sheedy type over a young coach in waiting any day of the week to get that club off the ground.

After my initial knee jerk reaction I have almost completely changed my mind

You are right - Most kids would be wrapt to be drafted. Probably most would prefer to go to a club that has some History but being drafted to a weak team only means more opportunities which will often make or break a kid.

I initially underrated Sheedy - and its probably a foolish thing to do given his track record. He should be smart enough to make it work in the coaching box.

[chef]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

As long as he surrounds himself with the right people/assistants and is prepared to listen to other peoples ideas, he should be fine.

[mighty_west]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

After my initial knee jerk reaction I have almost completely changed my mind

You are right - Most kids would be wrapt to be drafted. Probably most would prefer to go to a club that has some History but being drafted to a weak team only means more opportunities which will often make or break a kid.

I initially underrated Sheedy - and its probably a foolish thing to do given his track record. He should be smart enough to make it work in the coaching box.

I can understand people being a bit weiry about his appointment, he's not exactly a spring chicken now, but i am pretty sure i heard on SEN that Allan McConnell will be in charge of the team when it enters the VFL comp, like the GC will be doing next season under Bluey McKenna, which tells me, this appointment of Sheedy is more setting up the whole structure of the team and also makes sure it works, many have doubts it will even get off the ground, for all we know, he could very well handball the head coaches role to one of his assistants when they enter the big league, and him being a mentour more than anything.

[Topdog]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

From a purely coaching perspective I think it's past him but from setting things up right, getting media and corporate attention etc it's a strong move and one that needed to happen.

I wouldn't mind betting that he transitions into a coaching directors role before the club actually plays some games.

Agree with the first paragraph.

Kind of hope you are wrong with the 2nd one as I would love to see Sheedy coaching a very young team and finishing in the bottom 3 or 4.

I actually think he is far too arrogant to do a coaching directors role.

[GVGjr]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

I actually think he is far too arrogant to do a coaching directors role.

You are probably right but I wonder if he handpicks his successor if he wouldn't get some satisfaction in coaching the coach if you know what I mean.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Sheedy to coach Western Sydney

The first spruiker to be appointed as an AFL coach. Check the use buy date as I think Sheeds expired about 2002.