GREATER Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy has bristled at any suggestion of tanking with his young club, declaring that had he been coaching Melbourne, the current controversy simply wouldn't exist.
The debate over tanking has raised its ugly head once again this week after Carlton midfielder and former Demon Brock McLean admitted on Monday he left his old club over the issue.
An article during the week also suggested Sheedy would make sure the Giants lost a match-up with fellow one-win side Gold Coast in round 20 to secure the wooden spoon and pick No.1 in the upcoming NAB AFL Draft.
Sheedy admitted the assertion had taken some of the gloss off celebrations this week for his 1000th AFL game as a player and coach.
He said trying to manipulate access to players doesn't always work anyway and was a practice he would never entertain.
"When we were trying to beat Richmond here (a two-goal loss in round 12), the [coach's] box was very excited," he said.
"When you get in the mood to win, you don't worry about all that stuff.
"James Hird was not a priority pick at 79. You don't know where the great players are going to come from.
"The captain of the Swans, Brett Kirk (who came off the rookie list) … these sorts of things happen.
"A hell of a lot has been said since Brock McLean came out and started proceedings, but all I can say is, if I was coach of Melbourne, none of this discussion would be happening.
"Make sure you make the right decisions at the right time, get leaders in your club, and nail all that stuff about tanking and that crap."
Sheedy admitted he had been hurt by the suggestion his team would deliberately lose the clash with gold Gold Coast.
"One of the articles came out in the paper down in Melbourne and that was a bit disappointing after spending the last 35 years [coaching] full-time," he said.
"My job is to develop a young team here in Sydney."
GWS faces Port Adelaide at Skoda Stadium this Saturday, a match Sheedy believes his side 'absolutely' can win.
The likes of Chad Cornes, Dean Brogan and Jon Patton are expected to bolster the side as it chases its second win for the year.
He also views matches later this season against the Suns and Melbourne as winnable games.
Asked if simply winning games was the best way to build a young team, Sheedy had no hesitation in recalling how much of a boost the club received with its victory over Gold Coast in round seven.
"I've never seen a senior team in Canberra march straight over to the reserves sitting on the boundary line and be so happy together," he said.
"Some of these boys have been here for three years and some of them had only played one or two games, but that's how you build camaraderie when you've got a group of young people."
James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
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GWS GIANTS v Port Adelaide
ŠKODA Stadium - Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
2.10pm Saturday August 4, 2012
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