AFL coaching great Kevin Sheedy to help struggling Nunawading Lions

WHO do you turn to after getting thumped by 404 points? One of the greatest living footy coaches. Kevin Sheedy is coming to the rescue of a suburban footy club struggling big time.

Kevin Sheedy will use EPL champions Leicester as motivation. Picture: Mark Stewart

COACHING great Kevin Sheedy has answered an SOS from a suburban footy club struggling for success on and off the field.

Nunawading Lions are anchored to the bottom of the ladder with its reserves last week losing by 404 points and failing to score.

Its cellar dwelling senior team lost by 250 points at the weekend and an Eastern Football League record 350 the week before.

But — despite the club also drowning in debt — players at the club refuse to throw in the towel and now four-time Essendon Premiership coach Sheedy has agreed to help rally the troops.

“I’ll talk to them, there are a lot of ways you can help a football club,’’ Sheedy said.

“I’ll have a look at their personnel and hopefully they can dig their way out if it.’’

The master coach wants to help Nunawading dig its way out of trouble. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sheedy in his coaching days with GWS.

Tim Watson embraces Sheedy after the 1984 grand final.

Sheedy said he would use Leicester City’s incredible English Premier League success in winning the title two years after being promoted and a year after almost being relegated as motivation.

“I think there was a soccer team in England that people didn’t give a chance that did pretty well didn’t they?’’ he said.

He said he would also pass on tips he shared with the high flying Greater Western Sydney Giants when he helped set the expansion team up from scratch.

“I’ll go and have a chat to them about ways of overcoming getting belted which I used at the Giants,’’ he said.

Ninety-year-old Nunawading has struggled to field senior and reserves teams this season and the club started the season about $34,000 in debt with unpaid fees and invoices piled high.

But gate takings are up, a fighting fund launched to pay off debt and men in their 40s have come out of retirement to help boost numbers on the field.

Nunawading Lions lost one game this season by a league-record 350 points.

Lions president Wayne Devene took a call from Sheedy offering help yesterday and said the players were excited to hear any words of inspiration the mastermind could muster.

“We're a bit under the pump so any help we could get would be great,’’ he said.

“It will be just awesome for the players ... we just want to learn and make sure the club survives.’’

Former Sydney and Brisbane high-flyer Warwick Capper attended training last night, in another morale booster for the battlers.

“The players are having a real crack but some of the boys have never played footy before,’’ Devene said.

“We’ve made huge strides just to get on the field so we’ve just got to keep going.

“We can’t quit.’’

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