Probably many supporters, outside those in WA, would not be aware of who the late Jack Sheedy was, and probably even fewer would know that he played for the club in 1944.
He was arguably the most dominant personality in the WAFL across three decades. He was universally known as “Mr Football”.
Jack enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in Perth in March 1944, aged just 17, and was immediately posted to Melbourne. He played six games for South before his unit was relocated to Sydney. His roving partner at the Swans was the legendary South Australian player and coach Jack Oatey.
His connection was not only with the Swans but with Sydney where he played for two seasons for the then great Sydney Naval Club. He played for the club in the back end of 1944 and in its premiership team.
At the cessation of WW2 Jack returned to WA.
He debuted for East Fremantle in 1946 aged 19 (although technically he debuted in 1942 aged 15 while the WAFL operated as an under-age competition). He played 210 games between 1942-3 and 1946-55 and coached the club in 1949/52.
In 1956, in arguably the biggest football story in Western Australia, up until that time, he transferred to East Perth as captain/coach where he played 122 games and coached the club from 1956-64. He took the club to six grand finals in his first six seasons winning three premierships.
One of his players in 1956 was an 18-year-old engineering student at UWA called Graeme Pash who would become one of the most loved figures in the history of the Swans. They had a love of East Perth but equally a love of the track. And Graeme had a lot of love for Jack - he idolised him. For many years Jack would come to Sydney for one of the big race meetings as Graeme’s guest.
Jack played 22 games for Western Australia and was coach of the winning Western Australian Carnival team in 1961.
Pre All Australian teams being selected after a carnival and then annually the Melbourne based Sporting Life magazine selected its team of the year. Jack was selected in 1948/49.
He was the first player in the major competitions to reach 300 games. He finished his playing career with 360 senior games. Probably closer to 400 if his time at Sydney Naval was included.
He was inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame as a Legend. Never a more deserving recipient of such a high honour.
And we were mightily honoured when he attended a couple of Swans past players events in Perth.
Jack died on February 24, aged 96.
The club extends its condolences to his family and friends.
