Kevin Sheedy coming to Nationals!

Sheedy skips award in clean break
Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph

SACKED Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy yesterday confirmed he would miss the club's best-and-fairest event next month as he seeks to make a clean break from the Bombers.

Club officials hoped to convince Sheedy to attend the sold-out awards dinner at Crown Palladium on October 3, with chief executive Peter Jackson last week saying he would like the Essendon icon to be there.

But Sheedy said he believed it was proper to say goodbye to his fans at the testimonial lunch the day after this year's Grand Final and that he would skip the Crichton Medal presentation event.

Off contract at the end of the month, he instead will attend the Canadian AFL championships in Toronta and then the United States championships in Kentucky.

"I definitely won't be going to the Crichton Medal," he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

"It gives me a good break immediately after the Grand Final. I am really happy with that. It is fair to the next coach and all the players and fans. You move on. That is the way to do it.

"I would like to let them know in advance and not be rude and just not turn up. I will say goodbye on the Sunday, then we will start our lives again."

Sheedy is still on the job and will attend the Bombers Women's Network dinner in Grand Final week.

He is expected to turn down Fremantle's offer as a consultant, but he was still considering all offers.

"I just need time out," he said. "All my future decisions are being made over the next two or three weeks."

Meanwhile, Sheedy urged Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley to play on next year, after witnessing an excellent final year by Bombers skipper James Hird.

He talked Hird out of retirement after an injury-ravaged season last year and it paid rich dividends. He reckoned Buckley could have a similar experience.

"I would play him. I wouldn't retire Buckley, no way," he said. "I would put him on a 15-game contract, if he wanted it and if Mick was happy with it. Do the deal.

"I tell you what, it was the best thing we did at Essendon, and, not only that, topping it off with Mal Michael who was retired.

"We should never ever push out champions."

Article courtesy of the Sunday Herald Sun

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22424020%255E19742,00.html

- Jon Ralph
(987)