Kevin Sheedy opens up on being accused of racism in an Indigenous class action lawsuit

AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has detailed his pain and anguish at being accused of racist behaviour in an Indigenous class action, saying he was “blindsided” by the damaging allegations.

AFL coaching legend Kevin Sheedy has detailed his pain and anguish at being accused of racist behaviour in an Indigenous class action, revealing he escaped overseas after being “blindsided” by the damaging allegations.

Sheedy was named as a defendant in Supreme Court documents last year by Phil and Jim Krakouer but no longer has a case to answer after being quietly dropped from the case.

North Melbourne Indigenous star Phil Krakouer alleged that Sheedy confirmed to him at a sportsman’s night that he encouraged his Essendon players to racially abuse him to draw a tactical gain, a claim the former Bombers coach vehemently denied.

In a statement of claim, Phil Krakouer said several Essendon players racially abused him in the 1982 elimination final at Sheedy’s request.

Michael Long and Kevin Sheedy at Dreamtime at the ‘G in 2023. Picture: Michael Klein

Sheedy, 77, told the Herald Sun on Tuesday: “I got smashed over the head by a comment that I am basically a racist person. I thought it was pretty ordinary.”

“I was very disappointed. I was definitely blindsided by it. I had no idea what he was talking about.”

Sheedy was a pioneer of Indigenous recruitment and one of the creators of the Dreamtime at the ‘G clash as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on Friday night.

He told this masthead in an exclusive interview that he had been rocked to the core by the allegations given how much work he had done trying to help Indigenous people.

Sheedy said he would be prepared to sit down with Krakouer to better understand his situation.

But the toll on Sheedy and his family was savage given he had worked so hard across a lifetime in football to understand different cultures.

“I had never met Phil Krakouer until that night. Why would I want to say something like that when I had never met him before then, we are talking about 40-odd years since 1982?” he said.

“I know I live in fairyland at times but I am not sure what planet he is on. I disliked the comment totally. It never happened. I have not spoken to him since, I don’t remember speaking to him that night, I am more of a listener … Why would I want to say that?’’

“My family was very annoyed.”

Sheedy was named in a class-action lawsuit in 2024. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Asked how badly wife Geraldine had been hurt by the episode, he replied: “Don’t go there. Do not go there”.

Sheedy first went to the Tiwi Islands in 1974 to explore Indigenous culture as a Richmond player and began his career of Indigenous recruitment helping a shy Michael Long come out of his shell before turning into a Bombers icon.

He is determined not to play the victim given his determination to continue raising cultural awareness for Indigenous players.

Asked what he would say to Phil Krakouer if he met him, he said: “I would say, ‘Let’s go and have a talk’. The Indigenous people have been smashed across their footy careers. This is the first time something like this has come back to me.”

The four-time premiership coach, whose career at Essendon and GWS spanned 678 games, was adamant he had never told any of his players to use racist language to put off an opponent.

“(Essendon legend) Tim Watson made a comment last year. He said in all his lifetime when I was coach that I never talked that way about any Aboriginal players.”

After that March 2024 allegation Sheedy withdrew into himself and was happy to leave Australia for a period where he would not have to walk down the street with people believing he was capable of those actions.

Sheedy heavily denies any allegation of racist behaviour. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

“I went overseas and carried it in my head for a long time,” he said.

“I went to a conference (in Malta) and couldn’t get it out of my head. I was talking at a conference and I was studying the history of Malta and how tough they are and how hard they have fought in wars. I thought to myself I might as well stay here and learn how to fight.

“Without wanting to blow everything up again, I just want to say that I was very disappointed because one or two guys – Phil or Jim or both … it has to come from somewhere – has said something. I have always praised the Noongar people, they are the greatest story in AFL history.”

After a health scare last year, Sheedy said he was more determined than ever to help raise awareness for different cultures.

He spoke last week at a fundraiser for the Ruben Centre, a charitable organisation that has helped to raise $20m – including a large bequeathment – across the past 25 years for the Mukuru community, one of the largest slums in Nairobi, Kenya.

Sheedy has been connected to the organisation since his last premiership year in 2000, when he first spoke at an Australian fundraiser for the Ruben Centre alongside Simon and Justin Madden.

He still carries an Atlas with him wherever he goes, marking off all the regional towns he has visited and those he is dreaming of visiting in the future.

“There’s not a minute to waste,” he said.

Originally published as Kevin Sheedy opens up on being accused of racism in an Indigenous class action lawsuit