AFL Legend Kevin Sheedy Hospitalized with Mystery Illness

Kevin Sheedy, the esteemed Hall of Fame legend and former coach, is currently recovering in a Queensland hospital after experiencing a mystery illness.

The 76-year-old sports figure was on holiday at the Sunshine Coast when he reported feeling unwell and sought medical attention.

According to sources, Sheedy has been in the hospital for several days undergoing tests to determine the underlying cause of his symptoms. His wife, Geraldine, along with the Sheedy family, provided an official statement regarding his condition.

In the statement, they revealed, “Kevin was visiting family on the Sunshine Coast when he got a fever and sought medical treatment. He has since been admitted into hospital to undertake tests to determine the cause of the problem.”

They added that like many athletes, he prefers not to be sidelined and is eager to return to Melbourne to resume his commitments as soon as possible.

This news follows the recent announcement that Sheedy would step down as a director on the Essendon Football Club’s board. Having joined the board in October 2020, his primary role was to assist the club in rebuilding its football program.

During his tenure as a director, Sheedy played a significant role in implementing an essential external review and was involved in appointing a new senior coach, chief executive, and general manager of football.

In a statement regarding his departure, Sheedy expressed confidence in the current leadership, stating, “The club is in excellent hands with president David Barham and the current board.”

He further praised vice president Andrew Welsh for effectively managing football aspects from the board level and expressed confidence in CEO Craig Vozzo and coach Brad Scott leading the club towards future success.

Sheedy’s lengthy coaching career spans 27 years at Essendon Football Club, where he guided the team to four premierships. He also served as the inaugural coach of Greater Western Sydney and has made numerous contributions to the AFL, including establishing significant annual matches.