GIANTS Director and inaugural coach Kevin Sheedy has followed in the footsteps of his late mentor Tom Hafey after being awarded Coaching Legend status.

Sheedy, who is the only person to have played and coached more than 1000 VFL-AFL games, accepted the honour last night at the AFL Coaches Association Awards in Melbourne.

Coaching Legend status has previously been awarded to John Kennedy Snr (2009), Ron Barassi (2010), Tom Hafey (2011), David Parkin (2012) and Leigh Matthews (2013).

Sheedy was appointed the inaugural Head Coach of the GIANTS in 2009 after coaching Essendon to four premierships over a record 27 years with the club.

He also played in three premierships for Richmond and was inducted into theAustralian Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Sheedy finished his coaching career with a record of 389 wins, 283 losses and six draws.

Kevin Sheedy Career Record

    •    Played 251 games and kicked 91 goals for Richmond (1967-1979)
    •    Coached 679 games for Essendon and GIANTS (1981-2007; 2012-13)
    •    Richmond Premiership Coach 1969, 1973, 1974
    •    Essendon premiership coach 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000
    •    Coached six pre-season premierships for Essendon
    •    First coach of the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS
    •    Jack Dyer Medal, Richmond Best and Fairest 1976
    •    Richmond Captain 1978, Richmond Hall of Fame 2002
    •    Australian Football Hall of Fame 2008
    •    Richmond Team of the Century (back pocket)
    •    Essendon Team of the Century (coach)
    •    Total games played and coached at the conclusion of the 2013 season - 1030 including international, state and pre-season games