Latest news with #DomSheed
West Australian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Adrian Barich: Why THAT kick from Dom Sheed will go down as one of sport's most exciting moments
If given the chance, would you like to hold the destiny of a team, club, state or even a nation in your own hands? It's a good question, isn't it? If you could be the difference between sporting success and failure, would you accept the challenge? Please pause while reading this and ask whomever you're with (maybe even call someone) and ask, if offered the chance, would you want to be Dom Sheed on that afternoon in September in 2018 at the MCG? Would you want to be on the runway jumping for Olympic gold in Beijing? Injured and against the odds, would you want to have one more jump like Steve Hooker needing to over 5.96m on his final attempt. No second chances. Just ice in the veins, and possible gold around the neck. Or Cathy Freeman in 2000. With the entire nation on her back, after a build-up that included lighting the Olympic cauldron. She won gold with 112,000 people in the stands and billions watching on TV. Some athletes can withstand the pressure and deliver in key moments. It's almost 20 years since John Aloisi converted that penalty that sent 80,000 fans at ANZ Stadium into raptures as the Socceroos qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974. If you had the choice, would you have wanted to be in Aloisi's boots that night? To do one thing that you will always be remembered for, for the rest of your life. Fail though and you'll be left with all the ugly questions. Do you want to be Adam Gilchrist, smashing 149 off 104 in a World Cup Final, with a squash ball hidden in his glove. On the biggest stage, Gilly didn't flinch — he flourished. In the NRL, it was Johnathan Thurston, who iced the 2015 Grand Final with a golden point field goal, the smile hiding his killer instinct. Or on the biggest stage of all, the Augusta National, no one delivered under pressure quite like Tiger Woods. That chip-in on the 16th in 2005. Tiger made the impossible look easy. That was mental toughness and absolute belief under the most intense spotlight in sport. But would you want to be in the cauldron at that moment? Be the one that must deliver? I won't list them but plenty of sports people are remembered for choking at the worst possible time. Who wants to do something that every kid dreams of. To have destiny in your own hands. Choose me, gods of the game. Let destiny land at my feet. Call my name, footy god — let this be my moment. To be the master of the clutch play. This will seem over the top but when they asked me to write a match report after Dom Sheed kicked that goal in the 2018 grand final, I wrote: 'The red Sherrin in Dom Sheed's hands wasn't just a football, it was the beating heart of Western Australia. As he lined up for that improbable kick, it was as though he held the hopes, the pride and the very soul of a State that had waited decades for this chance, almost pulsating in the leathery grip of that ball.' Four million watched that day, probably two million were supporting West Coast and the other half Collingwood — the Pies are that polarising. And in the households in Perth the noise that exploded in the lounge rooms when Sheed slotted the goal, not with some wacky kick around the corner but the standard drop punt, was pure, unfiltered chaos. It starts as a sharp intake of breath, then the room erupts. Cushions fly. Drinks spill. Voices crack in disbelief as everyone leaps to their feet. It was a primal sound, not polished or pretty, but full of heart. The kind of noise that only comes when everything's on the line and somehow, your team delivers. Walls shake. The dog bolts. It's not just celebration: it's a release, it's relief and raw joy, all packed into a single, unforgettable moment. To deliver in the biggest moment of his life was unforgettable for Dom. My friends at King Eddies have told me that from October 2018 through most of 2019, Dom or Dominic was the most popular name for newborn boys. While even some of the newborn girls were even getting Dominique or just Dom. The Americans have a lot of these ultimate childhood fantasy moments. World Series, bottom of the ninth, one on and two outs, down by one and Kirk Gibson, with two injured knees hits a home run. In basketball, few moments are as iconic as Michael Jordan's game-winning shot in the 1989 NBA Playoffs. With the score tied at 100 and seconds on the clock Jordan swished the net as the buzzer sounded, sealing victory for the Bulls. This moment exemplified Jordan's legendary 'clutch' gene. MJ a good example of a unique breed of athlete who doesn't just handle pressure — they feed off it. These are the players who somehow find another level when it matters most. They don't just perform, they decide outcomes. Call it 'ice in the veins'. Call it 'big moment magic'. Moments of bravery like Nina Kennedy's clutch clearance at 4.90m in Budapest, under intense global pressure, cementing her as one of the best in the world. Calm, fierce and fearless when it mattered most. The truth is that sport doesn't remember the ordinary. It remembers those moments. These athletes remind us why we watch sport, for performance under pressure. For those rare times when greatness meets the moment and says: Give me the ball. I've got this!
West Australian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Joe Spagnolo: What can we learn from the ‘what ifs' in footy or politics?
Ah, what our politicians wouldn't give for some of the love we Aussies famously reserve for our sporting heroes. The outpouring of admiration for recently-retired footy greats Jeremy McGovern, Dom Sheed and Michael Walters has been phenomenal. And rightly so. These are exceptional men, each with a wonderful life story to tell and sporting careers that most would kill for. The 2018 AFL grand final, in which West Coast beat Collingwood, made Sheed a WA sporting immortal. That kick from the boundary to win the premiership for the Eagles will be spoken about forever. And that mark in the backline from McGovern that started a chain of events that led to the Sheed mark, kick and goal, will go down in footy folklore as one of the great moments in AFL history. I have always been fascinated by that 2018 grand final, because among wonderful stories where men became sporting legends, there were also stories of despair and what ifs — a lot like life, I suppose. What if the suspended Andrew Gaff had played that day instead of Sheed? What if the injured Nic Naitanui had played instead of Nathan Vardy, who was involved in that famous McGovern to Sheed exchange? What if the injured Brad Sheppard had played instead of Will Schofield? Would the result have been the same? Would the Eagles have won that grand final? But life is about opportunities, isn't it? It's about taking your chances when they present themselves: making the most of that one opportunity that comes your way. And Sheed, and the likes of Vardy and Schofield, did that. That's why I think that 2018 premiership was so special for West Coast. On that day a group of young men were presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and took it. And that's a great example for anyone trying to make their mark on life. If any young person wanted an example of seizing the moment when it arises, then that Dom Sheed mark is well worth a replay — or two. Which brings me back to WA politics. Just like that grand final, there have been many sliding-door moments in WA politics during the 20 years I've been covering the WA Parliament: moments that have shaped the present and the political careers of many. What if Troy Buswell had taken the WA Libs to that famous 2008 State election instead of Colin Barnett? Would Alan Carpenter's Labor Party still have lost power? What if Ben Wyatt had been successful in replacing Eric Ripper as Labor opposition leader in 2011? Would Wyatt have been the Labor premier instead of Mark McGowan? I am positive that just like Gaff, Sheppard and Naitanui, Ben Wyatt occasionally asks himself, what if? And would Roger Cook still be in WA politics, let alone be Premier, if McGowan hadn't retired from politics in 2023 to chase the big bucks in the corporate world? Sliding-door moments — just like events that led to that 2018 West Coast premiership. But to their credit, Barnett and McGowan — and now Cook — seized the moment, and the rest is political history. Moving forwards, I am positive there will be more political 'what ifs' coming up between now and the next State poll in 2029. If I'm correct, Cook will not contest the next election, leaving the door open for either Rita Saffioti or Amber-Jade Sanderson to lead the party. Both Saffioti and Sanderson want the premiership, though neither will admit it. Will Sanderson reflect on a 'what if' moment should Saffioti become the Labor Party's next premier. Or will Saffioti retire from politics in 2029, reflecting on a wonderful career and wondering 'what if' as Sanderson takes up the State's top job? Sheed had a chance at footy immortality and took it. It will be interesting to see whether Saffioti or Sanderson also manage to nail that kick from the boundary when the moment arises.
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Celebrating Dom Sheed and some of sport's best moments
If given the chance, would you like to hold the destiny of a team, club, state or even a nation in your own hands? It's a good question, isn't it? If you could be the difference between sporting success and failure, would you accept the challenge? Please pause while reading this and ask whomever you're with (maybe even call someone) and ask, if offered the chance, would you want to be Dom Sheed on that afternoon in September in 2018 at the MCG? Would you want to be on the runway jumping for Olympic gold in Beijing? Injured and against the odds, would you want to have one more jump like Steve Hooker needing to over 5.96m on his final attempt. No second chances. Just ice in the veins, and possible gold around the neck. Or Cathy Freeman in 2000. With the entire nation on her back, after a build-up that included lighting the Olympic cauldron. She won gold with 112,000 people in the stands and billions watching on TV. Some athletes can withstand the pressure and deliver in key moments. It's almost 20 years since John Aloisi converted that penalty that sent 80,000 fans at ANZ Stadium into raptures as the Socceroos qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974. If you had the choice, would you have wanted to be in Aloisi's boots that night? To do one thing that you will always be remembered for, for the rest of your life. Fail though and you'll be left with all the ugly questions. Do you want to be Adam Gilchrist, smashing 149 off 104 in a World Cup Final, with a squash ball hidden in his glove. On the biggest stage, Gilly didn't flinch — he flourished. In the NRL, it was Johnathan Thurston, who iced the 2015 Grand Final with a golden point field goal, the smile hiding his killer instinct. Or on the biggest stage of all, the Augusta National, no one delivered under pressure quite like Tiger Woods. That chip-in on the 16th in 2005. Tiger made the impossible look easy. That was mental toughness and absolute belief under the most intense spotlight in sport. But would you want to be in the cauldron at that moment? Be the one that must deliver? I won't list them but plenty of sports people are remembered for choking at the worst possible time. Who wants to do something that every kid dreams of. To have destiny in your own hands. Choose me, gods of the game. Let destiny land at my feet. Call my name, footy god — let this be my moment. To be the master of the clutch play. This will seem over the top but when they asked me to write a match report after Dom Sheed kicked that goal in the 2018 grand final, I wrote: 'The red Sherrin in Dom Sheed's hands wasn't just a football, it was the beating heart of Western Australia. As he lined up for that improbable kick, it was as though he held the hopes, the pride and the very soul of a State that had waited decades for this chance, almost pulsating in the leathery grip of that ball.' Four million watched that day, probably two million were supporting West Coast and the other half Collingwood — the Pies are that polarising. And in the households in Perth the noise that exploded in the lounge rooms when Sheed slotted the goal, not with some wacky kick around the corner but the standard drop punt, was pure, unfiltered chaos. It starts as a sharp intake of breath, then the room erupts. Cushions fly. Drinks spill. Voices crack in disbelief as everyone leaps to their feet. It was a primal sound, not polished or pretty, but full of heart. The kind of noise that only comes when everything's on the line and somehow, your team delivers. Walls shake. The dog bolts. It's not just celebration: it's a release, it's relief and raw joy, all packed into a single, unforgettable moment. To deliver in the biggest moment of his life was unforgettable for Dom. My friends at King Eddies have told me that from October 2018 through most of 2019, Dom or Dominic was the most popular name for newborn boys. While even some of the newborn girls were even getting Dominique or just Dom. The Americans have a lot of these ultimate childhood fantasy moments. World Series, bottom of the ninth, one on and two outs, down by one and Kirk Gibson, with two injured knees hits a home run. In basketball, few moments are as iconic as Michael Jordan's game-winning shot in the 1989 NBA Playoffs. With the score tied at 100 and seconds on the clock Jordan swished the net as the buzzer sounded, sealing victory for the Bulls. This moment exemplified Jordan's legendary 'clutch' gene. MJ a good example of a unique breed of athlete who doesn't just handle pressure — they feed off it. These are the players who somehow find another level when it matters most. They don't just perform, they decide outcomes. Call it 'ice in the veins'. Call it 'big moment magic'. Moments of bravery like Nina Kennedy's clutch clearance at 4.90m in Budapest, under intense global pressure, cementing her as one of the best in the world. Calm, fierce and fearless when it mattered most. The truth is that sport doesn't remember the ordinary. It remembers those moments. These athletes remind us why we watch sport, for performance under pressure. For those rare times when greatness meets the moment and says: Give me the ball. I've got this!
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
EDITORIAL: Retiring Dom Sheed has his spot in AFL history secured
It's a good problem to have. But there's a touch of unfairness to the fact that retiring West Coast Eagle Dom Sheed will be remembered by fans primarily for a single kick. A spectacular one, certainly. One made with the weight of a premiership on his shoulders. But one he managed to make look easy, despite the tightness of the angle and the magnitude of the occasion. Sheed's drop punt from the boundary to secure the 2018 grand final for the Eagles — made with just two minutes left on the clock — is already part of AFL folklore. And Sheed one of the game's legends. Even if you're not a West Coast fan, you can likely replay the moment in your mind, so ubiquitous has it become. The cost of being part of such an iconic moment is that it tends to overshadow everything else; the years of hard graft that came before and after. As Sheed on Tuesday announced his retirement from the club he has represented since he was drafted as an 18-year-old kid from Kalgoorlie in 2013, that kick was at the front of his mind, as it was everyone else's. It says much about the man's character that he confessed he has mixed feelings about being at the centre of such an iconic moment. 'There's a level of guilt that comes with it,' Sheed said. 'When people talk about that game, they talk about that kick a lot. 'It takes a lot of people to be able to make a grand final, to be able to win one, and I was a beneficiary of what was, in my eyes, one of the greatest grand finals ever.' In a lot of other West Australians' eyes too. Has there been a single moment of greater sheer delirium in our State? 'It wasn't until after we won the grand final, (seeing) how much joy and happiness you can bring other people,' Sheed said. 'And that was really special for me, to actually bring happiness to others.' Unfortunately, Sheed's final seasons have been marred by injuries. He has only played 24 games of senior footy since 2022. 'My body hasn't been able to hold up. I felt like, mentally, I probably had more to give, but physically, absolutely not,' he said. 'I worked extremely hard to try and get back. And I've pondered this decision for a while, and it's definitely the right one.' So the now-30-year-old has called time on a career having spent more than a third of his life at the Eagles. He'll always be an Eagle, as a premiership player and a club life member. There can be few more deserving of the honour. He's been there through it all: the very highest of the highs, as well as some of the lower points of the club's history. As Sheed said on Monday, it's been a hell of a journey. Throughout his career, he has had two goals. 'I am a pretty simple bloke. I wanted to be someone who trained hard and was a good bloke'. Job done.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy legend reveals why he feels guilty about the most famous moment of his career in emotional farewell to teammates
West Coast premiership great Dom Sheed enters AFL retirement tinged with guilt at the kick that made him famous. The 30-year-old from Kalgoorlie had played 165 games since his 2014 debut, but none this season after tearing the ACL in his right knee at February pre-season training. 'It has been an absolute privilege to represent the West Coast Eagles, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity this great footy club gave a skinny kid from Kalgoorlie,' Sheed said. His retirement comes a week after fellow Eagle Jeremy McGovern also called it quits because of persistent concussion problems. McGovern's intercept mark deep in defence famously started the crucial chain of possessions late in the last quarter of the 2018 grand final win over Collingwood. Sheed was on the end of the play, marking and kicking an outstanding goal from a difficult angle, with Magpies fans howling at him on the boundary fence only a couple of metres away. The footy star (pictured with wife Brooke) tore the ACL in his right knee during February pre-season training Shortly after, the Eagles won by five points for their fourth and most recent flag. Sheed told Eagles teammates of his decision on Tuesday morning, later confirming the news in a club statement. 'To play for the club I grew up supporting has been a dream come true, but the relationships you build and memories you share from footy are what I will cherish most,' he said. 'There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me along the journey, first and foremost my amazing family. 'It hasn't always been easy. There's been plenty of ups and downs, and to finish up without being able to play alongside the boys this year due to injury has been tough. 'But my family have been there for me every step of the way.' At his prime, Sheed was a key cog in West Coast's talent-packed midfield. But from 2022-24 he only managed 24 senior games because of injuries. Shead (pictured right) kicked the winning goal in the 2018 grand final, in which West Coast pipped Collingwood by five points 'I'm very fortunate. Right place, right time ... and then to be able to execute and impact on the biggest day in footy is something I think about every five minutes,' he said of the most famous moment of his career. 'It has brought me a wide range of emotions over the years - some amazing ones and some down ones as well.' Sheed revealed some guilt that his heroic kick largely overshadowed one of the great premiership deciders. 'There's a level of guilt that comes with it,' he said. 'When people talk about that game, they talk about that kick a lot. 'It takes a lot of people to be able to make a grand final, to be able to win one, and I was a beneficiary of what was, in my eyes, one of the greatest grand finals ever.
