Kevin Sheedy says bold new mission for military lottery to help veterans a ‘no-brainer’

AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has called for a new lottery legacy to raise funds for military veterans, saying he’s “embarrassed” Australia hasn’t done it yet.

Kevin Sheedy, the man who created the Anzac Day football match, has revealed his drive to deliver one final legacy act for our defence forces.

The legendary coach is proposing a Victorian lottery to raise millions for those who have and will serve, and are in need of help.

Sheedy, 77, says it’s a “no-brainer” to assist retired veterans and is determined to gain public and government support to make it a national initiative that will have an ever lasting impact.

“I’m embarrassed we haven’t done it as a nation and as Victorian people, it is so simple to do,” Sheedy said.

“We need the Victorian government to tick it off and embrace it. Just like Neale Daniher and what he’s done with Fight MND for motor neurone disease, and our fabulous Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital. The Anzac Day game is not just about footy, it has brought a whole new generation to national pride and understanding of defence forces.”

The first Anzac Day banner is unfurled in 1995. Picture: Supplied

After a major health scare last year Sheedy has put the establishment of a lottery at the top of his wishlist.

He was hospitalised for a month after collapsing last August, and has since been given a clean bill of health.

“It’s the No.1 thing I’d love to get done,” he said. “Along with three or four other things that I’m working on. Another one is to stay alive for as long as possible.

“My life flashed before me but I’m up and running again. I want to hit some home runs and I’m going out in the field of play again.

“It does make you think when you go through something like that.

“This is what our country needs and what our state needs is some positivity. At the price of a latte or a beer or a wine, we can buy a ticket for these people who have served us. It should be the state’s legacy.”

Sheedy was enlisted to National Service at the age of 21 with the Australian Army’s 21 Construction Squadron from 1969 to 1971. During his two-year service, he rose to the rank of corporal before being discharged.

Sheedy at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. Picture: Tony Gough

“Personally going in the army is one of the best things I’ve done in my life and that’s why I’ve always felt strongly about getting a game up to raise awareness,’’ Sheedy said.

“It should be a national thing. We love watching our Olympic team, our sport against other countries, but we should love our nation’s defence forces too.”

In 1995 Sheedy brought to life the Anzac Day match between Collingwood and Essendon, then the Dreamtime match from 2005 between Essendon and Richmond, and also the country game in 2016 between Essendon and Geelong, which hit a wall through Covid, but is returning now.

Sheedy has already had high level discussions about his plan, as well as with billionaire businessmen Paul Little and Lindsay Fox, and believes the public will give its support too if the government rallies behind it.

He said late former Victorian RSL president Bruce Ruxton would have given his blessing.

“Anzac Day had been there for 80 years before Bruce and I, then Essendon president David Shaw and then Collingwood president Allan McAlister, sat down and agreed on a game,” Sheedy said.

“It makes everybody aware each year that our country and the world has difficulties and shows how we care about troops.

Sheedy starting at the Caulfield RSL commemorating Anzac Day in 2015. Picture: X

“This is my chance to do something before I’m not here.

“It’s the right thing to do.

“To me it’s amazing we haven’t had a lottery and we’re in 2025. We’ve had one for a player retention scheme in Adelaide and one for building the Sydney Opera House, but not one for our Diggers, in particular in Victoria. We’ve been to that many wars that the women and men come back with some very debilitating problems and they feel dudded by our country.

“A lot of research has been done. They did a national lottery in Britain for the Olympic Games. A lottery in Colorado just to keep it looking good for visitors. They raised $3.9bn US and their population is nowhere near ours in Victoria. It’s about time we did it and it’s a national embarrassment that we haven’t.”

Sheedy says the lottery would compliment the work done by charities for veterans, such as Bravery Trust, Soldier On and Legacy.

Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse at the Eternal Flame in 2007. Picture: Supplied

He helped put on a fundraising dinner for Bravery Trust a year and a half ago that raised over $100,000, along with the Plumbers Union.

At the Shrine of Remembrance, Sheedy met Chief Petty Officer Luke Chapman who has undertaken a number of operational deployments, to relay his idea.

“These charities do important work and we could do more for them and people like Luke when they come out of service,’’ Sheedy said.

“I’m an ambassador for the Male Hug and men struggle in that mental health area.

“Coaching in the army was my first ever coaching job when I served. I know some who have had serious issues. An uncle on my mum’s side took his life. Many footy players went to Vietnam, from WA and SA, and the most notable was Graham Cornes.

“Queensland have their own lottery and have done a great job to help rehabilitate many of our defence forces. It needs another layer and Victoria is such a caring and sports minded state. Why does it take over 100 years since World War I to have a lottery in Victoria? What is leadership if you can’t look after our defence forces, with war still going on now? The funding should be there.

“It’s not a political issue, it’s a common sense issue. And in the latter years of my life I’m trying to make it happen with the support of the great Victorian population.”

Originally published as Kevin Sheedy says bold new mission for military lottery to help veterans a ‘no-brainer’