Kevin Sheedy reappointed for another season at the helm of Greater Western Sydney

KEVIN Sheedy has fallen in love with Sydney to such an extent that the Parramatta River has become the Seine and Parramatta Rd the Champs Elysees.

Kevin Sheedy

KEVIN Sheedy has fallen in love with Sydney to such an extent that the Parramatta River has become the Seine and Parramatta Rd the Champs Elysees.

Reappointed yesterday for a second season as coach of the GWS Giants, Sheedy claimed he is not going anywhere - even if he does not coach again beyond 2013.

"To me, Sydney's Paris and I've just come out of London," Sheedy said. "You know what I mean. It's pretty cold, a bit chilly and there's a fair bit of cloud in Melbourne, but now I live in Paris.

"It's the cheapest trip to Paris I've ever had. I'm sitting on a river, I'm loving it at Concord and down at Mortlake, and I'm not moving. It's as simple as that.

"I fly to Melbourne and take down three coats."

Sheedy claims he is not alone with his affection for the rugby league capital of the world.

"They (players and support staff) love Sydney. Everyone loves Sydney," he said. "I'll be interested to see the players when they come off contract because most of them are enjoying being in this city.

"They may not have been sure when they came but the coaches and the players are now."

Ironically, the only player on the Giants' list of 49 who was born in Sydney is Israel Folau, before his family moved to Brisbane while he was still at school.

Sheedy claimed he and the Giants would keep the faith with the struggling rugby league convert, who is in the second year of a four-year contract.

Giants chief executive David Matthews made it clear the club was keeping Sheedy for his ability as a missionary for AFL as much as a hands-on coach.

"There's no bigger figure in Australian football than Kevin Sheedy," Matthews said. "He's a great figure with great values, an icon of the game and a visionary."

The nuts and bolts coach is assistant Mark Williams, who is contracted to the end of next season but may yet return to Port Adelaide, where he coached the club to its only AFL premiership in 2004.

"I think Kevin Sheedy and Mark Williams have been one of the coaching success stories of the year," Matthews said. "A lot of people questioned whether it could work, and it has worked very, very well.

"We hope Mark will stay with the club but we haven't got a head coaching job. And if one comes up, we won't stand in his way."

Sheedy was undecided about his future beyond next season.

"If I'm going well, coaching well, feeling good in myself, then we'll have discussions," Sheedy said.

"I'm not going to be offended if I'm not. I've got an enormous amount of knowledge and experience and that shouldn't go to waste because of a date."

Set to "win" his first wooden spoon after 27 years and four premierships coaching Essendon, Sheedy claimed the Giants would be more competitive next season.

After two wins this year, Sheedy expects his young side to grab five next season.