Dom Sheed says he will leave the game happy, satisfied and feeling fortunate that he has been able to bring so much joy to so many West Coast Eagles fans.

In a farewell media conference tinged with humour and full of modesty, Sheed was grateful for an incredible journey from JPC and Mines Rovers in Kalgoorlie to a place in football folklore.

“It’s been a hell of a journey,” Sheed told a room packed with family, past and present teammates, coaches and staff.

“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to achieve.

“I leave the game being a Life Member of the footy club, a premiership player and I think, most importantly, I leave a better person – and that’s because of the people in the room now.”

Sheed realised it was time to hang up the boots while rehabilitating from his ruptured ACL and watching the next generation of Eagles taking the baton this season under new coach Andrew McQualter.  

“I thought, post ACL, I really wanted to get back to rehabbing that well and giving myself an opportunity to get back,” Sheed said.

“I had 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 now that I would be capable of playing.

“Along with that, I’m looking at this playing group now and they’re going to be fine, they’re going to be good, and they’re going to be the ones to write the next chapter for the West Coast footy club.

“That’s probably where I knew it would be my time.”  

Asked about his famous goal from the boundary to win the 2018 Grand Final, Sheed was reflective – and funny.

Only eight weeks before the Grand Final he was playing WAFL at a hailing Bassendean Oval, but he seized his opportunity to return with three home and away games to play.

His incredible Grand Final goal was the exclamation point on a dominant September campaign which saw him share the Player of the Finals award with Jack Redden.

“I’m very fortunate to be able to do that. 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,” Sheed said with a laugh.

“It’s brought me a wide range of emotions over the years, some amazing ones and some down ones as well, but what I do know is to win a premiership it takes a whole football club to be able to do that.

“We worked our backsides off for years to get to that point. As much as I was part of that special moment, I was able to execute, but it was so much bigger than that.

“There’s a level of guilt that comes with it, I guess, that 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 the beneficiary of what was – in my eyes - one of the greatest Grand Finals ever.

“It was special and I wouldn’t take it back, that’s for sure.”

Sheed felt ‘very, very lucky’ to play 165 matches after being taken with pick 11 in the 2013 draft, even though his last four seasons were riddled with injuries.

He will leave the game ‘a happy person’ and as an Eagle who brought so much joy to others with his fateful kick.

“It wasn’t until after we won the Grand Final (you realise) how much joy and happiness you can bring other people,” Sheed said.

“That was really special for me to actually bring happiness to others. I really hope that’s what I was able to do, was bring joy to others and be a good person.

“It’s just going to be one of those moments which was pretty cool.”