‘Lights went out’: AFL icon Kevin Sheedy opens up about mystery illness, collapse

AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has opened up about the mystery health scare he suffered earlier this year that prompted him to reassess his mortality.

Kevin Sheedy had a major health scare earlier this year. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

AFL icon Kevin Sheedy has spoken about the scary health episode he suffered earlier this year when he was struck down by a mystery illness.

Sheedy was visiting family in Queensland in August when he was hospitalised for a couple days.

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The 76-year-old has now revealed he collapsed and the “lights went out” before he eventually regained consciousness some time later.

“I’m much better than I was a couple of months back, in Queensland,” Sheedy told Seven News.

“It’s just pleasing to get back on your feet.

“Probably in my lifetime, it was fairly important to reflect about just hitting the deck on a floor in your hotel room and waking up a couple of hours later and trying to get back to Melbourne to try and get some treatment.

“In the end, I was in hospital in Queensland for a couple of weeks, they were fantastic people … then I ended up coming back to Melbourne.

“Lights went out. I found myself looking for my phone about two hours later, just to make sure I could get up and get the Uber to the airport to get home to Melbourne, which I eventually did, which was good.

Kevin Sheedy opened up about his health scare. Photo: Channel 7.

“There were lots of colours going through my mind then. I know exactly in my head what happened, and I’ll get an artist to paint it one day. Incredible colours went through my mind.

“I’ve never spoken about it, but I think I’ll go and get an artist to draw that.”

Sheedy, who stepped down from the Essendon board this year, said the episode prompted him to pull back a bit from work and reassess his life.

“In reflection, I’ve probably slowed down a little bit, but I love work,” he said.

“I just really enjoy inspiring Australians with creative thinking, energy, and making sure that you give your life your best chance because, really, your life’s a gift from your parents, and you shouldn’t let them down.

“No one thinks you’re going to have a heart attack or just drop out of existence for a few hours of your life.

“Anyway, I’m really enjoying being back here in Melbourne. I went to the finals and a couple of events I’ve done and spoken at, which is really good.”

Sheedy (and his scarf) is a legend of Aussie Rules (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Sheedy has since recovered and was well enough to attend the AFL Grand Final.

Sheedy said he isn’t exactly sure what the virus was that caused him to collapse. He lost around six kilograms through the ordeal.

“I don’t know. I thought I had a heart attack, but I don’t know what a heart attack is,” Sheedy said.

“And of course, the other thing was that the brilliant specialist that I had treating me said they couldn’t find what the virus was, but they believe that I’ve had a very serious virus, caught somewhere in Australia or overseas — I’d been overseas talking at a conference.

“They said it was quite amazing they (couldn’t) find it, but it does happen now and then, so I’ve just got to park that and move on with my life.

“I lost a stone in weight. I’ve got a whole new array of clothes and suits that I can wear again, which is fantastic.

“But in general, I’m probably fortunate to be here. I’m here; I’ll take that.”

Kevin Sheedy and Essendon celebrate winning the 2000 premiership. Photo: Football/AFL

The 76-year-old is a AFL Hall of Fame Legend. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sheedy won three premierships as a player with Richmond and coached Essendon to four premierships in a coaching stint lasting 27 years. The Bombers have now not won a finals game in 20 years.

Sheedy was the inaugural coach of the GWS Giants in the expansion team’s first two seasons in the AFL.

He was elevated to Legend status in the AFL Hall of Fame in 2018.

“I’ve always thought that if the doctor rings up and says you’ve got three weeks to live, I’ve always thought about: have I been happy with what I’ve done in my life to say I could die peacefully?” Sheedy said.

“If I had have dropped off the perch a couple of months back, I’d say I’ve done a pretty good effort. I never let my parents down which is, in my mind, most important — or family.”

Giants CEO Dave Matthews recently recalled that Sheedy urged Noel Gallagher to bury the hatchet with his brother Liam when they attended a football match together in 2013.

“Sheeds said, ‘No, no, I don’t care about your music — I don’t even know it. I’m just saying life’s short mate, build a bridge with your brother, you’ve got to get back together. And do it out of the spotlight, just reconnect mate. I’ve dealt with my own family and I’ve dealt with a lot of families and I just think it’s a huge mistake you’re making’.”

Originally published as ‘Lights went out’: AFL icon Kevin Sheedy opens up about mystery illness, collapse