Sheed: ‘I found my sweet spot at exactly the right time'
Sheed, who retired on Tuesday after 165 AFL games, on the back of a knee reconstruction and chronic foot pain, was in and out of West Coast's team throughout that historic 2018 season, unable to cement a regular spot.
'Eight weeks before finals, I was playing WAFL (with East Perth) and I remember it was hailing out at Bassendean Oval and I'm meant to be in the prime of my career,' Sheed, 30, told teammates, club officials, family and friends at his official retirement announcement at Mineral Resources Park.
'It was sort of crossroads for me. I was very lucky to get my opportunity to come back into the team, but more so proud that I made the most of that opportunity as well.
'I was able to play a role. But it was hard throughout that (year) and I felt like I found my sweet spot at exactly the right time.'
Sheed returned to the team when teammate Andrew Gaff was handed a season-ending suspension in round 20, and went on to average 28.2 disposals in his final six games.
He had a career-defining finals series, amassing 27 touches and a goal in the qualifying final against Collingwood, before backing up with another 27 disposals in a preliminary final win over Melbourne.
He shared the player of the finals series with Jack Redden but will for ever be remembered for the grand final winning kick against Collingwood, with less than two minutes remaining, after they had reeled in a 29-point deficit early in the game.
He had 1915 kicks in his AFL career, but that one against the Pies elevated him into the annals of grand final legend.
Asked how many times he'd been asked about it, Sheed said: 'Heaps. (You) Put your hands on repeat a lot. I've put a little bit of mayo on it every single time.
'It wasn't until after we won the grand final, (you realise) how much joy and happiness you can bring other people.
'That was really special for me to be able to actually bring happiness to others, and that's what I'll leave the game, and I really hope that that's what I was able to do, is bring joy to others and be a good person.' Dom Sheed celebrates with Eagles fans in 2018. Credit: Daniel Wilkins / The Sunday Times
Sheed followed up in 2019 with an averaged 26.5 disposals per game and kicked 16 goals, while in 2021 he led West Coast for disposals (579) and finished runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal behind Nic Naitanui.
'Dom will be forever remembered for that one great moment in the grand final, but to us internally he is much more than that,' Eagles football manager Gavin Bell said.
'He was an old-school footballer - tough, competitive, driven to improve and he cared deeply about his teammates.
'Dom made the most of his assets as a player. He had an incredibly high footy IQ, the ability to read and understand the game, and a deadly left foot.
'Reflecting on Dom's journey, it hasn't been easy for him. He's just stuck at it and played to his strengths. He's made the most out of his career.' Sheed's famous 2018 kick. Credit: Michael Willson / AFL Media
Sheed's 2025 season was over before it began, cut down by a torn ACL in his right knee at a pre-season session in February.
He will remain at the club to complete his knee rehabilitation as a mentor to the Eagles' next generation and continuing his knee rehabilitation.
'My body post ACL, I really wanted to get back to rehabbing that well and giving myself an opportunity of getting back,' he said yesterday.
'And I've been dealing with ... chronic foot pain, and I thought that I could possibly get through it, so I never wanted to close a window.
'But I don't think that now I'm going to be capable of playing and then, along with that, I'm looking at this playing group now, and you know that they're going to be fine. They're going to be good, they're going to be the ones to write the next chapter for the West Coast woody club. And that's probably where I knew it was my time.'
A decorated junior footballer and cricketer from Kalgoorlie, Sheed won the Larke Medal as the best player in the 2013 under 18 national championships. Sheed with his Larke Medal in 2013. Credit: Lachlan Cunningham / AFL Media
He was drafted at pick 11 in 2013 and made his AFL debut in round one the following season, Adam Simpson's first game as coach for premiership points.
He finished second in the 2021 John Worsfold Medal and was made a life member of the club in 2023.
Sheed said he always 'tried to be consistent'.
'Whether that's on the footy field or off the footy field,' he said.
He said that was his message to teammates before he fronted the media yesterday.
'I spoke to the boys and (told them) footy brings more lows and highs. And you know, if you can stay consistent as a person, that's always what I strived to be,' he said.
'I'm a pretty simple bloke. I want to be someone who trained hard and was a good bloke. So and I tried to keep it pretty simple and come in that way, and I left that way.' Sheed with the trophy he helped secure. Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian
'I would like to stay connected we in some way, shape or form. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I think I'll explore a couple of other ventures first. But I really want to stay connected to this club and this game, in some way. I don't think necessarily that will be coaching, but it might be in other areas.'
He played only one game in 2022, 15 in 23 and eight in 24 before this year's setback.
'It's been difficult. I mean you want to play, and when the team's not going so well, all you want to do is be out there and help. And when the team's winning, all you want to do is be out there winning with them,' Sheed said.
'When you're in rehab, it's tough, it's difficult, but like I said, if you stay consistent as a person, then you get through it, and you can only do what you can do.
'The body has let me down but in saying that, I played 160 odd games, I've won a premiership, I'm a life member. I can't leave the game disappointed, I am one of the very, very lucky ones that get to leave the game that way.'
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