1300 314 788
Kevin Sheedy AO
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Testimonials for Kevin Sheedy AO
Excellent, a perfect fit. Kevin slotted into the event like he was one of our own staff. He stayed for the duration of the event and virtually spoke to everyone in the room. Kevin posed for photos and signed autographs, and his address was not only highly entertaining but relevant to our objectives on the night. He is a true legend.
Insurance Group Australia
Kevin was very highly rated by the audience, with 85% of participants saying that he exceeded their expectations of the session. He was engaging and made the content relevant to the audience. Audience comments include: "Terrific way to end the conference with such an extraordinary bloke, who believed in the simple philosophy of one good idea, seeing beyond your backyard, being grounded and knowing who you are, reducing the bullshit and enjoying your job and life. Thanks very much" and "Thought this was the best part of the conference - his brief was relevant to our jobs and was thought provoking - great choice of speaker"
NSW Secondary Deputy Principal's Association
He was very well received and rated well. He drew on his experience to give the audience a broader insight into building and developing talented teams
Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)
Excellent. It was obvious that Kevin enjoyed himself in the “total CLUB environment.” He related well to all our members and created a great atmosphere during his presentation.
Clubs Victoria
Excellent. Very impressed with Kevin’s style of delivery and the parallels drawn between football and our business. Everyone benefited from the presentation.
Australian Wheat Board
Very stimulating speaker giving the audience a multitude ways of thinking and making things happen.
Northcote Training Services Inc
Excellent. Kevin’s presentation was enjoyed by everyone who attended.
Adelaide City Council
Fee Range: Up to $5000
Kevin Sheedy AO's Biography
Legendary Australian Kevin Sheedy AO, is a four-time AFL premiership coach and Australian Football Hall of Fame member, is an icon who transcends sport. While no one is bigger than the game, he is as big as it gets and a master storyteller to boot. As a player and coach over five decades his record is unsurpassed and the ANZAC day games and Dreamtime at the G are both outcomes of his passion and commitment to the game and our culture. Kevin is challenging, opinionated and always interesting and few speakers are able to motivate like he can.
Kevin Sheedy has been a success as a player and coach and is without peer when it comes to engaging new communities in the game. As an ambassador to the AFL, he was heavily involved in developing the Greater Western Sydney side. He was a driving force in the development of AFL Sportsready, a program which has provided more than 4000 jobs for young people.
In addition, he drove events including the Anzac Day match between Essendon and Collingwood, the Dreamtime at the 'G match to celebrate indigenous players and Essendon's strong presence in the Sydney market.
Kevin is known as much for his off-field work as he is for his premierships. In 1998, he broke the record for coaching more professional AFL games than anyone else in history. With a total of 886 games under his belt, he holds the AFL record for the most games combined as a player and coach.
Kevin Sheedy's AFL career began with the Prahran Football Club in 1964 and was followed by 12 years with Richmond, where he played 251 games and was a member of the Premiership teams in 1969, 1973 and 1974.
In 1973 Kevin Sheedy was appointed assistant skills coach and club development officer. While in this role he conducted football clinics at schools, junior and country football clubs, and shopping centres. He also introduced a Melbourne suburban football competition for children.
During 25 years as coach with Essendon, Sheedy coached 330 winning games, 167 losses and 5 drawn games, giving him a 66.09% win ratio. In addition, he competed in seven Grand Finals, playing premiers in 1984, 1985, 1993 & 2000, won six of the eight 'Night' Grand Finals, and was recognised as the ‘All Australian' coach in 1985, 1993 & 2000. The club's membership increased from 15,000 to 36,000+ and much of the club's success off the field is attributed to Sheedy's unique marketing skills and personal popularity with supporters.
Indeed, Kevin Sheedy has been a catalyst for many changes in AFL: respect for interstate football during the 1980's, an expanded interchange bench at the state and club level, a new level of versatility among players, the growing influence and confidence of Aboriginal players, clever manipulation of the draft and apprenticeships in football. "Sheeds" incredible run as Essendon coach came to a close at the end of the 2007 AFL Premiership season.
He continued on in an ambassadorial position with the AFL and took up the position as coach of the new Greater Western Sydney team in late 2009. 2015 saw Kevin return to Essendon after his role with Greater Western Sydney.
Kevin has long been an ambassador for the game throughout Australia. He has done a great deal of work with Aboriginal communities in the northern parts of Australia, encouraging young Aboriginal people to take up the game, and being a vocal supporter of anti-racial vilification laws in the game.
Kevin co-authored seven books: Sheeds: A Touch of Cunning; Sheeds: Pockets of Greatness; Footballs Women: The Forgotten Heroes; Second Chance Winners; Sheeds: Follow Your Dreams; Coaches 500 Club and Stand Your Ground: A Memoir.He is a life member of the Richmond Football Club, the Essendon Football Club and the Australian Football League.
He received the Advance Australia Award in 1993, was honoured in 1998 as a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to sport and the community, awarded the Australia Sports Commission Coach of the Year for 2000 [Domestic] and was also awarded an Australian Sports Medal in recognition of his service to Australian Football. Kevin is a member of the Team of the Century of the Richmond Football Club, and in 2003 he was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal.
In May 2018 the former Essendon and GWS coach was named the AFL's 28th official Legend at the annual Hall of Fame. In January 2019 Kevin was awarded an Order of Australia for his distinguished service to Australian Football as a senior coach, and to education and employment programs for young people.
A remarkable coach and gifted speaker, Kevin is a great addition to any conference agenda.
Speaking Topics Include
- Building a Team
- Developing Young Employees
- Empowerment and Leadership in the Workplace
- Leadership
- Pockets Full of Greatness
- The Forgotten Heroes
- Touch of Cunning