AustraliaSince arriving in 2009, Sheppard has gone under the radar shuring up the back for the Eagles for the past 11 years. Arriving from his junior club, East Fremantle, Shep’s career started slowly suffering a knee injury in 2010 but showed resilience to come back for the 2010 season playing 14 games before an AC joint injury saw him miss out the remainder of the season.
Struggling with injuries and selection, Shep only became a regular feature in the Eagles side in 2015 and has since gone from strength to strength, playing a consistent part in the Eagles recent success, although missing out on the 2018 premiership final due to injury, ending a run of 95 consecutive games for the West Coast. His work at the back often goes unnoticed and finished in the top ten best and fairest medal race every year since 2015 and has this season been rewarded with an All-Australian green blazer.
After perhaps his best season at the back, racking up 188 marks and 463 disposals, both career highs, he certainly has earned his green jacket this season.
A future Eagles captain, Shep will lead the line again next year with his contract set to expire in 2022. And after missing out on the 2018 final, he’ll be rearing to drive the eagles back to success once again.