AFL legend Kevin Sheedy still loves AFL footy despite retiring from coaching at the end of the 2023 season.
Sheedy played 251 games as a player for Richmond - winning three premierships, before going on to coach Essendon from 1981 to 2007 – winning four flags and finally coaching GWS in their first two seasons in 2012 and ’13.
While the 76-year-old is no longer in coaching, he serves on Essendon’s board of directors and still goes to watch the Dons whenever he can.
He also enjoys going to see the Tigers and Giants play as well as scouting the best young players in the competition including West Coast’s Harley Reid.
“I go to watch every week, mostly Essendon, obviously,” Sheedy told SEN Breakfast.
“But if the Essendon is away, I might go and watch another game.
“Obviously, I'm a life member of the Giants and a life member of Richmond. So I get to some of their games and have a good look at where they're positioning themselves.
“And also, you want to sit down and watch a guy called Harley Reid.”
Speaking of Reid, Sheedy compares the No. 1 pick to a young Tim Watson, whom he coached throughout most of his career.
Watson made his debut for the Dons aged just 15 years and 305 days and Sheedy says he was as speedy and vibrant as Reid has proven in his first nine games.
“With Reid, I thought he reminded me of Tim Watson,” Sheedy said.
“Tim Watson was such a vibrant speed player that I think a lot of people forget about it.
“All they think about him is that he’s the Channel 7 news reader. But Tim Watson played VFL at age 15 years and 10 months … that’s about two and a half years earlier than Harley.
“Harley Reid reminds me of Tim Watson.”
Reid would no doubt love to have the career of Watson once it’s all said and done as the ex-Don finished with three flags, four best and fairests and a place in the Essendon Team of the Century.
