Seven seasons have passed. His club won a premiership in 2000, lost to Brisbane a year later, but the pain that Kevin Sheedy felt after the one-point preliminary final loss to Sydney in 1996 has not yet escaped him.

Out of the Grand Final defeats (1983, 1990 and 2001) and the heartbreak of losing to Carlton in the 1999 Preliminary Final by a point, Sheedy’s biggest regret is how he spoke to the players after the 1996 preliminary final loss.

He may well be the greatest goal kicker of all time, but the point that Tony Lockett kicked after the final siren of that preliminary final was one that triggered one of Sheedy’s darkest hours as coach of the Essendon Football Club.

Speaking on the eve of his 800^th official AFL career game, Sheedy spoke candidly of the highlights and the lowlights that have influenced his career as both player and coach.

It may surprise many then to hear that if he had his time again, it would not be to rectify the results of previous Grand Final disappointments. Instead Sheedy spoke of the regret he has endured since that one-point preliminary final loss to the Swans.

""I was disappointed with the way I reacted with the loss in Sydney. Straight after the game I vented my anger at the players. That was over-the-top I have got no doubt about that now.

""If I had to take it back, I would like to take that four minutes back. I should have been more experienced and more caring about a loss to a team that had just been beaten by a kick after the siren. They’re the lessons you learn,"" Sheedy admitted.

Despite the anguish that Sheedy felt following that defeat, Essendon fans have come to remember him as the mastermind coach behind four flags during his tenure at the club. None have been as sweet as the Premiership won by the ‘Baby Bombers’ in 1993.

""1993 was a premiership that it was never expected to be. At the start we had about six guys who had played less than 10 games that played in a premiership that year. Misiti, Mercuri, Olarenshaw, Calthorpe and Hird. We had no idea of what they would be capable of doing.

""At the start of the year there was no way knowing that you would think we would win a premiership by seven goals. That would be the most satisfying,"" Sheedy said.