Sheedy far from a spruiker

THERE appears to be a belief around the traps that legendary AFL coach Kevin Sheedy is nothing more than a figurehead for Greater Western Sydney.

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If you listen to the story, Sheedy has been employed simply as a spruiker of the AFL's newest club. People will tell you Mark Williams was the "real" coach last year and Leon Cameron will do the same in 2013.

The theory makes some sense, after all, Sheedy is 65 years of age and had been out of coaching for a couple of years before the Giants job. He's also second-to-none in the spruiking department.

That chain of thought is all well and good until you get the opportunity to sit in on the Giants' inner sanctum.

Make no mistake, Sheedy is the boss in the coaches' box and that could not have been more evident during the Giants' three-point loss to Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

He does not run a dictatorship. Moves are made by all the line coaches as opinions and ideas are thrown up from every angle at a frantic pace.

But the chain of command is crystal clear. It's Sheedy, then Cameron, then the line coaches.

On a number of occasions during the night, Cameron and the line coaches would come up with moves, ideas and strategies. But all had to be given the green light by Sheedy before implemented.

There was no better example than in the dying minutes when Cameron went to Sheedy for instructions.

"There's two minutes to go Sheeds, what do we want to do?," Cameron said.

"Do we want a forward to go behind the ball?"

The answer was yes, but that's irrelevant. The short, but sharp exchange was an example of what took place throughout the night.

All the big decisions were made by Sheedy, but with the help of the team beside him.

Cameron will take over from Sheedy at the season's end.

These kind of deals don't always work and can end in disaster.

If Saturday night is anything to go by, the Sheedy and Cameron relationship will succeed.

While only in its early stages, the pair appears to be forming a great bond.

They had some fun, high-fiving late in the second quarter, but there is also great respect shown by both men.

It's clear Sheedy is the head coach, and Cameron respects that. It is also noticeable that Sheedy trusts Cameron and puts faith in many of his recommendations.

The chance to watch both men in action was truly a privilege and an experience that put to rest a lot of misconceptions about how the Giants operate.

THE START

The Giants’ coaching team walks into the box at 6.52pm, some eight minutes before the first bounce. It’s a big team of eight, headed by Kevin Sheedy, senior assistant Leon Cameron and line coaches James McDonald, Luke Power, Stewart Edge and Alan McConnell. Also in the box and set to play a vital part are Andrew Bahnert on the team board and analyst James McBrien.

FIRST QUARTER

The Giants’ coaching group enters the box reasonably relaxed, but quickly get to sorting out communication devices and checking out which Lions players are headed what way. 

Leon Cameron shows great interest in the crowd and makes comment to the group.

“It’s a good crowd in, and look they’re still lining up at the gate,” he said.

“They’ll get 10,000 in.”

The opening five minutes of the game is perhaps the most frantic of the night as match-ups are quickly sorted.

The first curve ball is thrown to the box when Nathan Wilson injuries his shoulder.

The coaching group is quickly informed that Wilson has an AC joint injury and is asked whether it wants him to be injected or substituted out of the game.

After some quick chat they make a decision in less than 20 seconds, Sheedy makes the call “inject him and see”. Wilson is eventually subbed out.

The group is generally pretty happy with their start. Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko identified as a problem and Kurt Aylett decided upon as the man for the task in the second term.

SECOND QUARTER

The Lions kick the first goal of the quarter just two minutes in and the Giants box begins to get more anxious.

“OK, they’ve kicked the last three goals now boys,” Cameron says to the group.

The Giants reply with a goal to Anthony Miles and Sheedy responds with his experience trying to calm the group.

“We’re only a kick behind, we can let them settle,” Sheedy said.

The Giants have become renowned for playing such a physical brand of football as a young group and it is clear that this is something the club prides itself on.

The coaching group often highlights pieces of niggle happening around the ground and appear impressed with it from their younger players.

GWS enjoys a big second quarter and the growing bond between Sheedy and Cameron becomes evident as they share a high five after a free kick is awarded to Jonathan Giles right in front of goals shortly before the half-time siren.

They also enjoy some lighter moments late in the quarter as the Giants hit the front.

“Geez that’s good play,” Cameron said after a Treloar goal.

“Is there a replay somewhere?

Sheedy simply responds with “No replays here, mate” and smiles.

THIRD QUARTER

The second half has a frantic beginning as the coaching group tries to again get match-ups under control and work out if the Lions have made any substitutions.

Brisbane jumps out of the blocks with three quick goals to hit the front and the mood in the box suddenly intensifies.

Aaron Cornelius and Tom Rockliff are the names getting mentioned a lot across the room as the Lions really begin to get on top. Cameron calls for composure.

Halfway through the third quarter the mood is far more serious and concerned than ever before as McBrien continues to bark out statistics of concern for the Giants.

Even the new restrictions on rotations now demands attention late in the quarter.

The dialogue between Cameron and Sheedy goes through the roof as the Giants finish the term with a steadying goal.

FOURTH QUARTER

Anyone who suggests that NAB Cups mean nothing obviously were not in the Giants’ coaches’ box during the final quarter on Saturday night.

The intensity went up another level early in the final quarter as both teams go goal-for-goal.

The scores are locked together until Sam Frost crumbs a goal to put the Giants in front as Sheedy erupts in jubilation.

“Good on ya, Sammy, good on ya, Frosty,” he yells.

Brisbane Lions continue to push and kick a couple of behinds to narrow the margin.

Match-ups and statistics fly across the room as Cameron reinforces the message of composure at ground level.

Ultimately, the Lions are awarded a free kick right in front of goal and the a pair of headsets are thrown to the desk as Sheedy blows up.

He stands and gets up to storm out of the box as the mood in the Giants camp is flat.

It is clear that losing is unacceptable, even with a young squad in a pre-season competition.

“That’s good Sheeds, we’re one point up,” as the coaches rush off for the three-quarter-time huddle.