- Kevin Sheedy in hospital for unknown illness
- Doctors are working to determine the cause.
AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has been admitted to hospital after suffering a mystery illness while on holiday.
The 76-year-old was visiting family on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, when he fell ill and needed urgent medical attention.
Sheedy is believed to have been in hospital for several days.
His wife Geraldine Sheedy confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday night.
“Kevin was visiting family on the Sunshine Coast when he developed a fever and sought medical treatment,” he said.
He has since been admitted to hospital for tests to determine the cause of the problem.
‘Like all athletes, he would prefer not to spend time on the sidelines and is looking forward to returning to Melbourne and resuming his commitments as soon as possible.’
AFL star Kevin Sheedy is in hospital in Queensland after falling ill while visiting family.
Sheedy announced earlier this year that he would step down as a board director of the Essendon Football Club at the end of the season.
Essendon’s four-time Championship coach returned to the club to join the board in 2020, hoping to help the club rebuild its football program.
During his tenure, Sheedy appointed a new senior coach, chief executive and general manager of football, and also helped implement a crucial external review system.
Sheedy said he was leaving the club in excellent hands.
“I was happy to step up and help out when Paul Brasher asked me to in 2020, and I’ve always done everything I can to help this club. This will never stop,” he said at the time.
‘I have every confidence that under the leadership of CEO Craig Vozzo and Coach Brad Scott, we are on the path to success.
The family say the four-time Premier League manager is looking forward to returning to Melbourne.
“We are back to being a football club where our main objective is to win games and make our members and supporters proud of everything we do.”
Sheedy played 251 games for the Richmond Tigers over 13 seasons and won three championships.
He coached Essendon for 634 games and four titles between 1981 and 2007.
He was also the inaugural coach of the GWS Giants during the 2012–13 seasons.