To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tigers’ 1973 premiership, Richmond Media is transporting Yellow and Black barrackers back in time throughout 2023 to follow the Punt Road path to that fabulous flag triumph. Today we examine the positional move of tough, fiercely determined defender Kevin Sheedy to Richmond’s forward line midway through the ’73 season in this feature article by the Age newspaper’s leading football writer Peter McFarline.
Kevin Sheedy, the most belligerent backman of them all, is happy at last . . . because he’s become a forward.
But that doesn’t mean he’ll stop talking and antagonising opponents on the football field.
“No fear – I’m going to keep on talking whatever position I play,” Sheedy said last night.
“Talking on the field is just as important as getting the ball and kicking it.
“Most people won’t agree with me – but most coaches will.
“And it helps team mates and the team.
Modestly, he didn’t mention how it affected umpires and players from other teams.
Sheedy, now 25, makes no secret of the fact that he has enjoyed the move from back pocket to ruck-roving and half-forward flank.
“I came from Prahran in 1967 as a half-forward-centre player so I would be lying if I said I didn’t like it now,” Sheedy said.
“But the back pocket at Richmond has been good to me – and I won’t mind if I have to go back there to get a game.”
Sheedy has often been moved on to the ball by coach Tom Hafey during a game, but only in the past two weeks has he spent a whole game there.
“Tommy said he wanted me nearer the play. The present trend of resting rovers on a half-forward flank or even the wing was keeping me out of the play way too much. I didn’t like it,” he said.
“I’ve been happy with my form in defence – but I found myself out of the action a lot of the time.
“On the ball, it is different – it presents another major problem.”
Sheedy, of course, was talking about kicking for goal.
He succeeded the week before last kicking 4.0 against Footscray – but on the MCG last Saturday managed only 1.5 with two out of bounds against Essendon.
“I’ll just have to concentrate more when kicking for goal. I practised all day Monday and I’ll be putting in plenty of practice before the weekend. Some of my shots on Saturday missed by only a couple of feet – but add them up and they make a difference of 25 points in five shots.
“Let’s face it, whether I keep that half-forward position is entirely up to me. There are a lot of players at Richmond who could fill the bill.
“If I’m relegated back to defence, I won’t mind – because it is important just to get a game.”
Coach Hafey probably won’t mind either. After all, he can always move Sheedy forward when things go poorly.
