HEARD, Shane

Shane Heard was recruited from Horsham in 1977 where he had played 65 senior games for the Horsham Homers by the end of 1980.

An intelligent player, he was quick and clever around the packs and was a good ball handler. He trained hard and was a keen team man.

By 1983 he had graduated to being a strong "jack of all trades" but could be inconsistent. He earned a reputation as one of the League's best taggers and his endurance and great concentration enabled him to take opposition players out of the game. He played in that year's losing Grand Final.

Heard played a key role in the 1984 premiership win by tagging Robert Dipierdomenico and keeping the Hawthorn star to only 13 disposals while winning 23 himself. Bill Duckworth won the Norm Smith Medal but Heard's contribution was acknowledged by the Club and he won a special award as Best in Grand Final. He was then an emergency in the 1985 premiership team.

He was selected in the State side in 1985, 1986 and 1987 and won the coach's award in 1983 and 1984.

He gained a certain notoriety in 1986 when state coach, Kevin Sheedy, brought him into the squad as a late inclusion, but kept it secret from everyone, including his team-mates. He was flown to Adelaide under a different name , didn't train with squad and wasn't included in the team photo. The South Australian team didn't find out until just before the game but, unfortunately for Victoria, the ploy didn't work out and South Australia won the game.

Heard retired at the end of 1987 and went back to Horsham to play for the local team, but was talked in to coming back to play another year in 1991, wearing the unfamiliar no. 45. His commitment to the team was demonstrated that season when he had to return to the field in a game against eventual Grand Finalist, West Coast, despite suffering a serious knee injury, when Essendon had only 15 fit players. The match was only lost by seven points and the team was cheered off the ground as supporters acknowledged their brave effort.

He missed the next 11 games and retired for good after Essendon lost the 1991 Elimination Final to Melbourne. It was the fifth time he had played in an Elimination Final - all losses.

Heard moved to Canberra and played for Ainslie in 1992 and 1993, winning premierships both years, before returning to the Wimmera and buying a sheep and cattle property at Miga Lake.