Kevin Sheedy will be among ten football identities that will take an icy plunge in support of Neale Daniher’s efforts to raise money to fight Motor Neurone Disease.
Sheedy caught up with the inspirational Daniher at Tullamarine today after the former Crichton Medalist was presented a $5000 cheque from the Essendon player’s in support of his campaign.
Sheedy will join personalities such as Eddie McGuire and Matthew Richardson at the MCG for ‘Big Freeze 2’ prior to the Melbourne and Collingwood clash on Queen’s Birthday Monday.
The two reminisced about their days together which started back in 1981, when Daniher won the best and fairest award in Sheedy’s rookie year as coach.
Sheedy said that sliding down into ice wasn’t part of his normal routine.
“I’ll go down because of Neale,” Sheedy said amongst plenty of banter.
“It’s a great cause, this young man won my first best and fairest, I made him captain after that and he never played for nine years hardly.
“It was a really good decision, he had a sore knee for nine years and three major knee reconstructions and got back to play with all his brothers in late 1990.
“Magnificent career, a person with a great spirit and you can see that coming out.
“His leadership in the predicament for MND and the beast and caring about the others, that’s the beauty of this person.”
Sheedy said that the Daniher family was right up there in leadership with Neale paving the way, not only in sport, but now in his campaign in raising awareness for the disease which has changed his life.
Daniher said it was some rare praise for his former coach.
“It’s about time he said something nice about me,” Daniher joked.
“As we know there are two types of Sheedy, there’s the dirty rotten Sheedy coaching and now there is nice Kev.
“It’s good to see nice Kev come out, but he will be filthy when he comes out of that ice – old Sheeds will come back.”
Facing the media along with Neale’s nephew Joe Daniher, the former Melbourne coach says he spares the young forward any advice.
“I’m good mates with John Worsfold, he’s the coach of the team and he’s doing a good job. He doesn’t need me or him (Sheedy), particularly him, giving advice,” Daniher said.
“It’s been a tough year but I enjoy watching Joey play, big tall forwards always get lots of advice.
“I always wanted to play in the forward line, I only went there when I had to save your (Sheedy’s) backside.”
Sheedy was nominated to go down the slide by Bombers legend and now media performer Matthew Lloyd.
“Matthew Lloyd, I put him in a team for 270 games and I get smashed. What a way to get me back,” Sheedy said.
But prior to the Big Freeze, the Bombers have the tough task of hosting Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
“There is no love between Hawthorn and Essendon, tickets are $25 get there and make sure we play a great game even though it’s been a tough year for the Bombers,” Sheedy said.
“Give our Bombers hope, these young kids like yourself (Joe Daniher), every game you get you’re going to learn something out of it.”
