Kevin Sheedy is one of the AFL's most enduring figures. A player and coach over five decades, his extraordinary record spans over 1000 games and seven winning premierships.

Kevin Sheedy began his career at Prahran Football Club in the Victorian Football Association in 1964. After playing in a premiership with that club, he transferred to Richmond in the Victorian Football League in 1967 and played 251 games before retiring in 1979. Kevin played in three winning grand final sides for the Tigers: 1969, 1973 and 1974, and was the Skills Coach at Richmond when the club won the 1980 Premiership. In 1981 he was appointed Senior Coach at the Essendon Football Club, where he coached for a record 635 games during 27 years of continuous coaching. In that time the club competed in 19 finals series.

With a coaching success of over 60%, and 87% in finals, during his time at Essendon the club competed in seven Grand Finals, winning flags in 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000. The club also won six of eight 'night' grand finals in which it competed.

The All Australian coach in 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000 and State of Origin coach in 1984 and 1985, he was also the successful Coach of the International Rules Team in 2005 and 2006, winning three of the four Tests played during his tenure.

In round 15 of 2007, Kevin broke the VFL/AFL's combined playing/coaching record with 251 games played and 628 coached for a total of 879 games.

In addition to their tremendous on field success, Kevin also helped develop Essendon off the field. In 1980, membership was 15,000; in 2008, Kevin was given the honour of being the club's 40,000th member in recognition of his efforts in making the club a national 'brand'. That same year he was inducted in to the AFL's Hall of Fame, made a Legend of the Essendon Football Club, nominated as The Australian Thinker of the Year, appointed an Ambassador for the AFL during the 150th anniversary celebrations of Australian football and made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to sport and the community.

A life Member of the Richmond Football Club, Essendon Football Club and the AFL, he was named the Australia Sports Commission Coach of the Year for 2000 [Domestic] and was awarded an Australian Sports Medal in recognition of his service to Australian Football. Other awards include runner up in the Vic Division for 2008 Senior Australian of the Year and The Centenary Medal in 2003.

Kevin was one of three finalists for 'Coach of the Year' in the 2000 Australian Sports Awards, with Essendon named National Team of 2000.

In 2009, Kevin was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University for his services to football, particularly the way he has encouraged Aboriginal footballers into the sport, and inducted into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame.

That same year, Kevin Sheedy was appointed inaugural coach of the newly formed Greater Western Sydney Giants, retiring at the end of the 2013. Now a board member of the club, GWS Chairman Tony Shepherd highlighted his importance, saying: 'In many ways Kevin Sheedy is the father of the Giants. He's been here from the start and has helped build the Giants.'

Kevin Sheedy is the co-author of seven books: Sheeds - A Touch of Cunning, Sheeds - Pockets of Greatness, Football's Women - The Forgotten Heroes, Second Chance Winners, Sheeds - Follow Your Dreams, Coaches 500 Club, and the best-selling memoir Stand Your Ground.