Essendon rocked by Kevin Sheedy exit news as AFL fans pay tribute to legendary figure
The Essendon legend will step down as a director on the club’s board at the end of the season.
Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy has confirmed he will step down from the Bombers’ board at the end of the season – almost four years after he was appointed in the wake of a tumultuous campaign. Sheedy joined the Essendon board in October 2020 with the sole purpose of helping the club rebuild its football program.
During his time as director, Sheedy helped implement a pivotal external review as well as appointed a new senior coach, chief executive and general manager of football. The Bombers (11-9-1) currently sit 10th on the AFL ladder and will need to win their final two matches of the season to have a chance of making the finals.
Essendon haven’t won a final since 2004 but there is a growing sense of belief that they are building towards something special. And as Sheedy leaves his post at the Bombers, he says he is walking away confident that the club is on the “road to success”.
“The club is in excellent hands with president David Barham and the current board,” Sheedy said in a statement. “Vice president Andrew Welsh is doing an excellent job, looking after the football aspects from a board point of view.
“I was happy to step up and help when asked by Paul Brasher in 2020, and I have always done everything that I can to help this club. This will never stop. I am very confident under the leadership of CEO Craig Vozzo and coach Brad Scott that we are on the road to success.
“We have returned to being a football club where our ultimate focus is on winning football games and making our members and supporters proud with everything we do. Essendon means so much to so many people and with the current stability and renewed focus at the football club, we have the right foundations for sustainable success.”
Sheedy coached Essendon for 27 years from 1981-2007, guiding the club to four flags in that time. The Bombers and Tigers legend was also the inaugural coach and a former director of Greater Western Sydney. And upon learning he was stepping down from the board, Essendon fans took to social media to thank him for his service.