Tara Murray
New Yarraville coach Michael Sheedy says taking on the coaching role at the Eagles as his biggest coaching challenge yet.
Sheedy was announced as the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association club’s coach for the 2024-25 season.
He is no stranger to the Subbies competition having coached both Plenty Valley and Mount Waverley.
Sheedy said having moved back to Melbourne’s west he was looking to coach a bit closer to home and Yarraville was an exciting opportunity.
“I parted ways with Mt Waverley on the eve of finals due to my health,” he said. “They were understanding that I couldn’t perform due to my health, but I’ve got better.
“It’s [Yarraville] closer to home which makes it a lot easier.”
Sheedy said all the clubs in the west were very professional but it was existing contact with Yarraville that attracted him to the role.
“Matthew Harrison is a good friend of mine and he’s come out of retirement and gave me a bit of a poke to chat with them.”
The Eagles top side last season finished 10th in the north-west, while they finished 25th overall in the club championship.
Sheedy said a lack of depth across the club impacted all their sides.
“It’s my biggest challenge in coaching,” he said. “Plenty Valley was successful as was Mt Waverley.
“This is a new challenge with a bottom 10 club. Throughout the whole club there wasn’t the depth.”
Sheedy said in the first side they wanted to add some experience to support those already there.
He said he would play along with Harrison, while they’ve already announced the signing of English quick Will Sheffield.
Josh Hahnel will continue on as skipper and former coach Jonah Koch will also remain at the club.
“Jonah is travelling at the moment and won’t be back to mid October which is part of the reason he stood down,” he said.
“He’s staying on and he’s an important player. He was a one man band at times.
“Josh has been in the team of the year the last two years and didn’t have a lot of experience around him,” he said.
“Matt and I will help him there.”
Sheedy said they were looking to recruit some more experience that would then flow into the lower grades.
He said they were keen to get their third and fourth XI into the division 1 competitions.
“We have some talent at the club, we want to support them.”
