Essendon Legend and Board Member Kevin Sheedy has advised members today of his intention to step down as a director of the club’s Board at the end of the 2024 AFL season.

Sheedy joined the Essendon Board in October 2020.

As he has done many times for this club, Sheedy took a Board position with the express role of helping the club rebuild its football program. During his time as director, he has been involved in helping implement a crucial external review, appoint a new Senior Coach, CEO, and General Manager of Football. He was also instrumental in attracting Vice President Andrew Welsh back to Essendon, who now chairs the club’s Football Governance Committee.

Sheedy was Senior Coach at Essendon, winning four premierships over his 27 years, in what was one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. He was also the inaugural coach and a former director of Greater Western Sydney.

26:29

The Bombers: Stories of a Great Club | Kevin has arrived

In 1981, former Tigers hard man Kevin Sheedy became Australian Football's first full-time coach and his early years weren't short of success or drama.

Sheedy has made an incredible contribution to the AFL industry over many decades including creating the iconic Anzac Day and Dreamtime matches, enhancing the AFL Coaches' Association and establishing the AFL Sports Ready Program. He is an Essendon Football Club life member and Hall of Fame Legend, an AFL and Richmond Football Club life member and an AFL Hall of Fame Legend.

President Dave Barham thanked Sheedy for his contribution to the Essendon board.

“Kevin has made an enormous contribution to this club. He joined the Board during a challenging period and helped the club through some difficult moments following the COVID lockdown period. He was instrumental at Board level on keeping us all focused on football. He will always be a legend of this club and revered by every Bomber fan and supporter,” Barham said.

"On behalf of everyone, thank you for another great contribution to this club.”

09:02

150-year celebration | Sheedy's Immortal acceptance speech

Kevin Sheedy accepts the club's highest individual honour obtainable at Essendon's 150-Year Gala Dinner.

Sheedy will officially step down from the Board at the end of September and is proud to leave the club in good stead.

“The club is in excellent hands with President David Barham and the current board. Vice President Andrew Welsh is doing an excellent job, looking after the football aspects from a Board point of view. I was happy to step up and help when asked by Paul Brasher in 2020, and I have always done everything that I can to help this club. This will never stop," Sheedy said.

“I am very confident under the leadership of CEO Craig Vozzo and Senior Coach Brad Scott, that we are on the road to success. We have returned to being a football club where our ultimate focus is on winning football games and making our members and supporters proud with everything we do. Essendon means so much to so many people and with the current stability and renewed focus at the football club, we have the right foundations for sustainable success.”