SHEEDY TOPS THE CLASS

There's no doubting Kevin Sheedy's love of promoting the game that has given him a legendary national identity and of musing about where we come from. I didn't know that his father had died when he was 18 and that he was 'an angry young man for a long time' after the death.' This little story emerged when I interviewed him at last Friday's luncheon at Windy Hill to promote the ABC televised Bendigo Bombers v Coburg match. This revelation and the importance of sons and fathers talking to each other as much as possible were among Sheedy's offerings.

Kevin Sheedy on the promotional walk

And not surprisingly, come half time on Saturday, he was at the ABC commentary box as agreed, to join Ross Booth, myself and Darren Boyd (Peter Donegan is on Olympic duties for another week) for a yarn about the game. Given football has made Sheedy a comfortable man, there's every reason he should delight in the opportunity to take centre stage and regale an audience. And of course his number one mission is the promotion of the Essendon Football Club. However, unlike some AFL coaches, he's not become absorbed in his own self importance. Nor has his sense of place, which includes beginning his career with a premiership at VFA club Prahran in 1966, been lost in the showbiz whirl.

When was the last time we heard an AFL coach in the aftermath of such a victory spruiking about a VFL game, as Sheedy did last Friday night at the MCG? 'We could get 5,000 people at Windy Hill tomorrow,' he said. Unfortunately, with the temperature dropping to 7 degrees and rain setting in, a crowd of that proportion was never going to eventuate. Nevertheless, according to Bendigo Bombers General Manager Paul Barnard, 1,000 people braved the cold, wind and rain. That's more than some clubs get on a sunny day!

When Sheedy had the opportunity to hand the Kevin Sheedy Trophy to Bendigo captain Nick Carter after the match he promoted a Bendigo final and spoke glowingly about the captain. It was just what Bendigo Bombers president a Warren Driscoll and his Coburg counterpart Dean Mighell, who are passionate about building a strong rivalry between the two clubs, would have wanted.

The biggest challenge for the VFL is to instil a sense of the VFA/VFL's real history, build local rivalries and attract bigger crowds. The VFL needs friends like Kevin Sheedy in the pursuit of these goals. Sadly, Danny Frawley, who's been great to Coburg won't be around next year. But maybe Sheedy can drag a few of his coaching mates and AFL clubs with him in the promotion of a once great competition on the cusp of a revival.

ON THE DEATH KNELL

What a finish to the VFL season. On Saturday, Coburg takes on Werribee at Coburg with a spot in the top four at stake. Was it the conditions - several Coburg players were suffering hypothermia and the Doctor wanted the umpires to call off the game - that made Coburg look so ordinary last Saturday? Since 1990 Coburg has made the finals only once, in 2002, when the club went within a kick of the grand final. Since winning consecutive premierships in 1988/89 there has been many dark moments, including 1993 when the club failed to win a single game. With coach David Flood bringing renewed passion to the side and youngsters Alex Isailovic and Travis Jorgenson firing, Ryan O'Connor showing great leadership and captain Leigh Carlson and defender Dean Talbot steady in a crisis Coburg looked set for a big month of finals. Against Bendigo the forward line appeared confused and the hard balls went to the Bombers. Werribee can be a tough nut. They had to kick four last quarter goals to stave off a spirited Williamstown on Sunday, and with so much at stake won't leave Flood's boys guessing. Just who collects David Mitchell down back will be interesting. Broadcast live on ABC TV this should be one hell of a game.

ON HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE

The Bendigo Bombers haven't exactly been laden with local boys. It's still a work in progress, but the City of Bendigo has everything to gain by having a side in the VFL and a partner such as Essendon. If Geelong defeats Port and the Bombers lose to Tasmania they'll miss the finals and the opportunity of a home final. That should be enough to have the locals swarming to the Queen Elizabeth Oval. Make no mistake the Essendon players are critical to the side's fortunes. So the challenge for key VFL players Guy Campbell, Jordan Doering, Gary Moorcroft and Nick Carter is to ensure those players are on their game. A loss by Tasmania (5th) and they'll miss the top four and, one would think, the chance of a premiership. This looms as one of the biggest VFL games ever at the QEO. I might even jump in the car for a look.

SATURDAY

BOX HILL HILL v Williamstown
COBURG v Werribee - ABC TV

SUNDAY

Northern Bullants v SANDRINGHAM
FRANKSTON v Springvale Scorpions
BENDIGO BOMBERS v Tasmania
PORT MELBOURNE v Geelong