One of the greatest players in Tigerland’s history made his senior league debut exactly 50 years ago today.
Kevin Sheedy lined up with Richmond for the first time at senior level on Saturday, April 29, 1967, in Round 3 of what turned out to be a drought-breaking Tiger premiership season.
Sheedy’s arrival at Punt Road that year was steeped in controversy.
He had been a star centreman at the then VFA club Prahran, making his senior debut with the Two Blues at just 16 years of age.
With his home located in Melbourne’s metropolitan zone, Sheedy received, and accepted, an invitation to try out with the Demons.
But after playing a few practice matches at Melbourne, Sheedy opted to return to Prahran, and he went on to be a key member of the club’s VFA second division premiership team in 1966.
Richmond became extremely interested in securing Sheedy’s services and approached Melbourne for permission to speak with him.
That was duly granted, and Sheedy subsequently agreed to join the Tigers.
There was a catch, however, because although Prahran agreed to release him, the VFA refused to grant his clearance because of a disagreement with the VFL at the time over transfer fees.
Sheedy moved to Richmond minus a clearance, and without the transfer fee of $5000 being paid, incurring an automatic five-year suspension from the VFA as a result.
He was 19 years, 126 days of age, when he played his first senior game of VFL football with the Tigers against Fitzroy.
Richmond won a scrappy encounter that day by 25 points, with Sheedy a handy contributor in the centre as a replacement for injured Tiger star Bill Barrot, picking up 18 disposals (16 kicks, two handballs) and taking three marks.
Unfortunately for Sheedy, he managed only another five senior appearances for Richmond in 1967 – his season finishing prematurely due to a serious knee injury, thereby depriving him of the opportunity to be part of the Tigers’ glorious premiership triumph that year.
But, by the time Sheedy’s league football career at Richmond finished 12 years later, he had played in three premiership sides, won a Jack Dyer Medal (in 1976) and captained the Club (in 1978).
The accolades from Tigerland kept coming for Sheedy following his playing retirement . . . selection in Richmond’s Team of the Century (back pocket) and induction into the Club’s Hall of Fame being the main ones.
And he’d earned a glowing reputation for his toughness, fierce determination, professionalism, team-first attitude, plus high skill level.
Richmond v Fitzroy Round 3, 1967 match details
Richmond 2.3 5.5 9.10 11.12 (78)
Fitzroy 2.3 4.4 5.9 7.11 (53)
Goals – Richmond: Bartlett 3, Davenport 3, Hart 3, Guinane 2.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Bartlett 25, Burgin 21, J. Perry 20, Clay 18, A. Richardson 18, Sheedy 18, K. Shinners 18.
Goals – Fitzroy: Brown 2, Andrews, Lazarus, Ruscuklic, Wall, Zunneberg.
Leading possession-winners – Fitzroy: Murphy 29, Murray 26, Newnham 23, Peoples 18.
Kevin Sheedy’s Richmond playing profile
Recruited from: Prahran (VFA)
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 10
Total games at Richmond (1967-79): 251
Goals at Richmond: 88
Honors at Richmond: Triple premiership player (1969, 1973 and 1974); voted best player in the Club’s 1971 and 1973 finals campaigns; Best and Fairest winner in 1976; runner-up in 1969, third in 1971 and 1974; Club captain in 1978; Tigers’ Team of the Century member; inaugural Richmond Hall of Fame inductee
