GWS and Essendon players will share the spotlight with Kevin Sheedy in Friday night’s NAB challenge game, as they celebrate the massive impact he has had on both clubs.
Players from both teams will form a guard of honour at Sydney’s Spotless Stadium, for one of the great characters and advocates of the game, who is about to move from one club to the other.
Sheedy, who won four premierships with the Bombers in a memorable 27-year tenure as coach, returns to Essendon next week in the newly created role of general manager, commercial development and innovation
For the last five years he has put his inimitable stamp on the Giants in their formative years, first as a coach and then in off field roles.
He’s their first life member and also has the their best and fairest medal named after him.
“He’s had a massive impact on the club,” Giants midfielder Tomas Bugg told AAP.
“I don’t think the club would be anywhere near where it is at the moment, without him.”
Barracking for Essendon as a kid, Bugg was delighted to take his first steps as an AFL player under the iconic coach.
“I was excited and so was my family that I was going to be able to play under the coach that I’d been watching ever since I started watching football,” Bugg said.
“I really appreciated the time I got to spend with `Sheeds,’ and I definitely learnt a lot.”
While much has been made of the understrength nature of the Bombers and their need for top up players, they will still have some heavy artillery to fire at GWS in the first Friday night match at Spotless Stadium.
Brendon Goddard, Joe Daniher and David Zaharakis will each have their first hitout of the year, as will new recruits Adam Cooney and James Gwilt.
“We can only play what’s put out there and Essendon have brought in some good players,” Bugg said.
“We’re definitely not going to take them lightly this week.”
GWS bring in Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw, Adam Treloar and Devon Smith, while Rhys Palmer and James Stewart will also make a first appearance of the year, after overcoming minor injuries.
Gyfox
Guest
2 weeks ago I commented that there should be 30,000 at the game at ANZ stadium. There wasn't. In fact there has not been a crowd over 30,000 in Sydney this season. And Brisbane crowds are also down. Result is that this year to date the NRL ave crowd = 16,127. This compares with 16,796 for season 2014 & is the lowest for the NRL in over 12 years. I also note that Sydney FC has had low crowds - blamed variously on weather, cricket WC & post Asian Cup. Will be interesting to see what the Swans get for their 1st game at ANZ Stadium on April 4.
Josh
Guest
The question is being asked around WSW supporters as most follow either the bulldogs or eels. All so far have said they will choose the A League over the NRL so there goes that theory.
Max
Guest
The NRL put it up against a WSW home game where it knows that Bulldog and Eels supporters are WSW supporters as well. They have no shame
Marez
Guest
Kevin sheedy, Mark Harvey, Neil Craig. I wonder how many more babysitters need to be employed to control James Hird
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
True enough Gyfox. If Carlton, Essendon & Richmond ever get their acts together, the AFL attendance 'problem'will be quickly remedied. When I say 'problem', its a problem every other sport in the country wouldn't mind having.
Gyfox
Guest
You are right, Epi - in 2012 attendances dropped 600,000. This was no surprise. With the intro of GWS it was expected that less people would attend the game when their team played them at home (as well as away, of course). However, since 2012 attendances have progressively risen. This year we may well see attendances back to AFL normal when teams host GWS & Suns. 2015 depends on the usual factors of where your team sits on the ladder. But the ASADA conclusion (depending on its effect) may also affect crowds at Essendon games, as we saw last year. Nevertheless, with approx 7 mill total attendances, recent declines have only been less than 1% for AFL. It is still the 4th highest football code in the world for average attendance - something truly amazing, considering our population. I think the AFL may well get an all-time record for its opening round this year....maybe 400,000. Now that would be something!
Knoxy
Guest
Dreamtime in the land of the falafel?
Mervyn
Guest
The AFL still average 35K a game and it would vary if carlton, Collingwood, Essendon or the 2 Adelaide teams are having a big year. There are 4 AFL games on FTA TV each week and the economy is slowing so all codes would suffer I would think...There are more games being played but less Victorian blockbusters because the Vic clubs are playing the minnows - so its easy to counter your argument. Sophisticated analysis would show that over the long term the AFL crowds are static but the extra game means that the AFL has more viewers week to week now despite having less games than the NRL. This is despite the AFL 8 being decided pretty early in the year and the uncertain results in the NRL due to the nature of the game ie you have it for 6 and then I have it for 6 and of course the dreadful NRL ref decision that can change a close NRL game which rarely happens in the AFL where a teams dominance in getting the ball is usually reflected on the scoreboard.. But that's its strength.a refs howler doesn't decide a game like it does in soccer and NRL and to a lesser extent in the Rugby....
Mervyn
Guest
There are 4 Friday night western Sydney derbies at ANZ this year over 26 rounds out of a max 12 derbies and one is up against the Giants v Essendon with a big Bombers fan base in Sydney - You are kidding if it was an accident......
Epiquin
Roar Guru
The weird part about AFL attendance is that from 2011, TOTAL attendance has decreased, despite there being two extra teams and more games played.
Mervyn
Guest
The AFL rarely plays on Friday night in Sydney...Lets see how many other Friday night ANZ games there are....To think they didn't do this deliberately is laughable
clipper
Guest
I think the NRL learnt their lesson last year when they played just about every game in Sydney in R1 with a very poor turnout - I think they were trying to combat the A league Sydney derby which backfired, as that was the most attended event that week.
clipper
Guest
Have to agree, can't see the NRL being worried about a trail game and you're right about most games being on Friday night. It's always a risk as well, as you're giving extra publicity if both games clash.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I'd say that's probably a big part of it. The other thing to remember is that pro sports aren't just competing against each other, they are competing against all forms of entertainment, of which there is also much choice.
Gyfox
Guest
Actually, despite the AFL attendances in Melbourne dropping (attributed to bad scheduling & new variable pricing) the AFL attendances overall were up.
Macca
Guest
If I was to hazard a guess it would be better and more TV coverage combined with spiralling admission and food & beverage costs - the AFL seem to be making some steps towards countering this.
Macca
Guest
I think he'll probably go for the "Isn't Kevin Sheedy Wonderful Game"
Rising Power
Guest
Not if it's a promotion of the game involving Billy Zane
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Almost all the Western Sydney Derbies are played at ANZ Stadium and almost all of them are on a Friday night. The Bulldogs home ground is ANZ and they have more Friday night games than any other team excluding the Broncos. With 8 teams in Sydney and half of them in Western Sydney, it is inevitable that sometime their games will clash with AFL games. After all, are the NRL going to schedule games to ensure they DON'T clash? Come on...
Mervyn
Guest
How many ANZ games are going to be Friday night between 2 western Sydney teams - why wasn't it last Friday night (2 unbeaten teams) or next Friday nigh - tthe NRL claimed they didn't schedule against the AFL and then the Telegraph pointed out how they did and the NRL changed their tune and said it was a consideration.. The losing Giants struggle to draw crowds but by mid season will be averaging the weaker Sydney clubs home games where they count the members even when they don't turn up....