Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)
Kevin John Sheedy AO is a former Australian rules football coach and player in the Australian Football League. He played and coached in a combined total of 929 games over 47 years from 1967 until 2013, which is a VFL/AFL record. Sheedy was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and on 29 May 2018 was elevated to legend status.
Sheedy in March 2013
Kevin Sheedy and James Hird farewell banner ahead of their final game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established with 136 inductees. As of 2024, this figure has grown to more than 300, including 32 "Legends", with Jason Dunstall being the most recent inductee in 2024. There had previously been 32 official Legends prior to Dunstall's elevation, but disgraced player Barry Cable had his football honours rescinded after being found guilty of historical child sex abuse.
Until 2021, Barrie Robran was the only Legend inductee in the Australian Football Hall of Fame who did not play club football in Victoria during his career, a point often used to criticise the institution.
Image: Kevin Bartlett
Image: Malcolm Blight statue Adelaide Oval
Image: Haydn Bunton Snr leap