AFL coaching legend Kevin Sheedy says he’s not bothered that his swan song might be overseeing the first winless season by any club in almost five decades.
Sheedy’s Greater Western Sydney have lost all 16 games so far this year, averaging only half their opponents’ score, putting them on track to become the first winless club since Fitzroy in 1964.
In a reflective mood on Friday at the MCG – the scene of his four premierships coaching Essendon and three playing for Richmond – Sheedy said with all the success that has come his way, he could handle bowing out with a losing season.
“I’ve been blessed with that. I’ve been very fortunate,” Sheedy told reporters ahead of what will be the last of his 372 MCG fixtures – against Collingwood on Saturday.
“If the situation in the end is Kevin, this is the way that your career ends, then that’s the way it ends, but the journey so far has been enormous.
“I’m okay with that.
“Every time you try to get to a grand final, it probably costs you 60 losses.
“It’s just that these are happening quick.”
The Giants’ 20-match losing streak is already the equal 15th-longest in VFL/AFL history.
But Sheedy wasn’t worried that dismal record would turn off potential recruits such as Hawthorn star Lance Franklin, or cause any of the Giants’ talented youngsters to jump ship.
He said it was “scary” how good GWS could be in three or four years, when they have a team’s worth of 100-gamers who have all developed together.
And Sheedy predicted the Giants next year would make a similar jump to that of Gold Coast this season, provided they could land three or four quality recruits.
He said preparing for his last MCG appearance brought him excitement for his team, not sadness for himself.
“The biggest win in my life in footy is coaching the Giants in western Sydney,” Sheedy said.
“To take a team and start it off in west Sydney … that’s an enormous win for our game.
“Forget about the position on the ladder at the moment.”
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